PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor #
SDI Scuba Instructor #5505
      
          Ralph strapped on his first SCUBA rig in the mid-1950s and upon descending and finding he could breathe underwater experienced the greatest thrill of his young life so far. 

          Over the years the thrill has continued and he has discovered that he is more comfortable on or under the water than on land.  He particularly enjoys participating in others’ first experience of SCUBA diving.  “To see the awe and wonder in their eyes and hear it in their voices upon surfacing after a dive and to know that I played a part in introducing them to this very special world is a never ending joy in my life.” 

          Ralph’s diving experience includes most of the popular dive spots around the world and even a little tactical Scuba diving in the South China Sea while a member of the US Army Special Forces.  After retirement he became a divemaster/ assistant instructor, then an instructor, attempting to pass on the enjoyment he has experienced SCUBA diving. 

          He is concerned about the state of coral reefs around the world and stresses respect and care for that precious natural resource.  Ralph owns Odyssey Divers USA, LLC, in Spotsylvania County, Virginia, a small SCUBA diving training and travel business and an affiliate of Dive Connections in Charlottesville.

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