I am a design engineer for The Boeing Company in Seattle, Washington. I got bit by the scuba diving bug at an early age after hearing about the adventures my dad and brother went on together. At 12 years old I received my Jr Open Water Certification, which became a full fledged Open Water Certification once I was old enough. Since I grew up in Iowa, there weren't many opportunities to go diving, so unfortunately I have only been able to go twice. My first time in the ocean was in 2009 in Playa del Carmen, Mexico. I went on 3 different dives while I was there: reef dive, shark dive (I can't remember what kind), and a cenote dive. Each was an amazing experience and made me want to stay there forever and dive every day. About 2 years later, at the very beginning of 2012, I got to go back to Mexico, this time to Akumal which is just south of Playa del Carmen. Again I got to go on 3 dives, the first was a refresher with some people who were new to diving (it was fun to help them out a little) and we saw a lionfish, my first one! I was amazed at how small it was, considering it can eat so much! The next two dives were on the local reef and I got to see some sea turtles (I just loved watching them glide through the water with such grace) and an old motorcycle. The thing I love most about diving is the complete sense of peace and calm that you feel when you are underwater. It is a chance to get away from the hustle and bustle of everyday life on the surface. I have definitely caught the diving bug, and I plan on diving at least once a year for the rest of my life. There are so many different places I want to go, I almost have to dive that many times just to see them all! Because of my love for the ocean, I want to do everything I can to help protect it and give the creatures that live there a fighting chance at survival and help them thrive as well.