In the 1970s, the course to obtain proper certification was nine months long. Mr. LeRiche feels that the six week course required today to become certified is not as effective.
He believes that anyone learning how to scuba dive needs to build a high confidence level that is gained through a great deal of practice to ensure knowledge and comfort of the erratic physics of water.
In his opinion, the most important aspect of diving is developing an open-minded and safety conscious attitude.
“During those times you wouldn’t even put on an oxygen tank or a regulator until about three months into the course. They made sure you knew the basics first. You’re down there in an unknown environment and if you do not know exactly what to do, you or someone else could die,” he warned. “It’s easy enough to become tangled on the ocean floor.”
In contrast, Winston Keeping from Port aux Basques had a natural interest in diving and never took a formal training course.
“I picked it up as I went along. I just bought the gear and jumped overboard,” he laughed.
The thing he loves most about diving is the sport of it.
“From March onward in Newfoundland the water is very clear. There is a lot of visibility and it makes for a good dive,” he said. “There are a lot of mussels to be picked too.”
In his younger years he dove many wrecks including the R.M.S Ascania, which sunk off Cape Ray in 1918. He also explored wrecks off the coast of Labrador and St. Mary’s Bay.
The most famous wreck he searched was the U.S.S Pullox that grounded near St. Lawrence in 1942. This incident was famous for the compassion and equality the residents of St. Lawrence showed an African-American crewmember who nearly died.
When he became a commercial diver, Mr. Keeping worked often for Marine Atlantic but he found it infringed upon the recreational aspect of diving.
“It took a lot of time away from diving for pleasure,” he said.
student@gulfnews.ca
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