Copyright: Jurgen Brauer, Augusta, Georgia, USA

My 18-year old son, Leon, and I (Jurgen Brauer) took PADI divemaster training.  PADI, the Professional Association of Diving Instructors, is the world's largest scuba-diving certification agency. The divemaster is the first professional-level (rather than recreational) dive qualification.
   Instead of driving from Georgia to the Florida Keys in one go, Leon and I decided to spend an afternoon and night in Melbourne, FL.  The beach was beautiful ...

... but clearly suffered from erosion.

At twilight, a firetruck offers an opportunity to test the truck's reflective markings.

Next day, somewhere along the Keys. The water looks enticing.

We set up our pop-up trailer ...

... and Leon enjoys a meal.

Paradise Divers, on Ohio Key, is well-known to us. The entire family of five took the initial ("open-water") dive training here in December 1998, and four of us took the "advanced open-water" training in April 1999 here as well. We have been avid divers ever since.

A look at the dock and one of the dive boats.

Larry ...

... and Linda ...

... and Phil (sorry, Mary ... didn't get a good shot of you) run the operation.

Diving requires one to drink PLENTY of water to stay hydrated but that doesn't mean I am going to give up a good cup of coffee.

Son Leon of course is keen to be seen with a hot car.

One night as I was stepping out to use the shower house I noticed this fellow clinging onto our screen room pole. Light, camera, picture!

The divemaster training was a rather more intensive 10-day event. Only on the very last day did we get to do some recreational diving, "just for fun." Hereunder a sizeable green moray eel.

A bridled goby is next.

Some soft coral.

For the first time I caught a live conch on digital film. Note its eyes curiously looking at me. Ordinarily, a conch will withdraw into its protective shell, but the patient, quiet diver is rewarded and can study the animal at leisure.

The Great Barracuda. We see them regularly on our dive outings.  This one was photographed from a 10-foot or so distance. Hurray for the tele-lens and digital enhancement.

Red-banded cleaner shrimp (we often see them "up-side down") ...

... and a happy Leon. We did earn our Divemaster certification!