By Gassia Ashikian
Staff Writer
Although diving underwater with creatures can be scary, Mira Costa history teacher Ian Uhalt scuba dives regularly and enjoys his passion for underwater adventures.
Uhalt has been scuba diving for nearly four years. He first went diving in Hawaii in Iahana, Maui, where he swam with turtles and sharks. He has continued scuba diving ever since his trip to Hawaii.
“I have always been interested in the ocean, and a trip to Hawaii made me realize that I really wanted to scuba dive and further explore what is under the ocean’s surface,” Uhalt said.
Uhalt started to really enjoy diving when he first finished his open water certification at a scuba shop in Redondo called Sea D Sea. At Sea D Sea, Uhalt also got certified as a Dive Master, a level below that of a diving instructor.
“I began scuba diving at Veterans Park [a diving location] in Redondo Beach,” Uhalt said. “It was actually a tough spot for beginners to start because it is almost entirely covered in sand [making it more difficult to dive].”
According to Uhalt, it is recommended that divers dive with a partner for safety assurance.
“Having a dive buddy is extremely important because they can help if you run low on air, become entangled, or have some type of equipment failure,” Uhalt’s diving buddy Joshua Sprinkle said.
Uhalt does not only dive for pleasure but is working toward becoming a scuba diving instructor. In order to qualify as an instructor, a diver must complete a minimum of 100 dives, dive for at least six months, pass an emergency first aid test, a physical test, complete an advanced water class and pass a written exam.
“I’m working hard toward becoming certified as a scuba professional, but I also would love to become a professional underwater photographer,” Uhalt said. “I really love the amazing underwater experience.”
Uhalt dives at various locations, some of which include Veterans Park, Playa de Carmen, and Ukon Shipwreck. According to Uhalt, each dive spot has its own unique experience.
“Uhalt is a really great scuba diver,” senior Laura Fiegelman said. “I find it very interesting that he has this hobby. He has great pictures that he shows the class.”
Uhalt observes the thousands of creatures underwater including halibut, kelp, fish, crabs and flounders.
“I dove in over 100 feet of water, which is known as ‘blue water’ diving,” Uhalt said. “Over the course of my diving career, I have swum over fields of jellyfish and octopi, which was definitely a one-of-a-kind experience.”
Both Uhalt and Sprinkle love exploring different diving location. Sprinkle has had the best diving experience at a sunken reef in San Diego.
“There is an area in San Diego called Wreck Alley, and my favorite dive there is a 370-inch long Canadian destroyer named Yukon,” Sprinkle said.
Uhalt feels that diving provides him with an existential feeling. Scuba diving offers him a relaxing experience.
“Every single time I dive, all of the issues above the water completely disappear, and you are purely and totally focused on diving,” Uhalt said.
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