Spring Break Scuba

I spent spring break taking a course offered through Stanford's marine science branch in Monterey to get certified as a scientific diver. In five days we completed the prerequisites--PADI's advanced open water and rescue diver certifications--and then also made good headway towards finishing the AAUS scientific diver requirements (I'll have to go back down sometime to finish up, but I can think of worse ways to spend a weekend or two).

50 degree water means squeezing into a lot of neoprene.

Doing a survey for invasive tunicates  on the Monterey wharf for one of our scientific training dives. 

Getting ready to head out to the deep reef. 

While scuba takes place in a very different medium, there are definitely parallels that can be drawn to climbing--especially the high level of breath and mind control that is helpful to, or even required of, both activities.

Overall a very cool way to spend break (now back to the grindstone).