"Doing what you love
to do"
Sunday, June 19, 2009
was one of the best days of weather yet this summer.
A friend and I spent the day on the ocean fishing
from my boat. It was the kind of day you never want
to end. Sunny and warm with no humidity – a gentle
sea breeze with a calm ocean. Even the fish were
biting. What more can anyone ask for.
Despite the wonderful
conditions, I was dreading for what lay ahead. I
knew that evening I had to attend the viewing of a
friend that died a few days earlier while scuba
diving. She was only 47 years old – much too young.
How could this be?
I’ve been on dives with her over the years and she
was an excellent diver with a great deal of
experience. Was it an equipment problem or something
else? I was deeply troubled by this while I waited
for answers.
Days later I would
learn that her death wasn’t a result of anything
that happened while diving. It was an unforeseen
medical condition and I’ll leave it at that.
I attended the viewing
as planned. As usual there were many family and
friends present. I saw a few diving friends who I
hadn’t seen in a while. Due to the situation we
simply engaged in light conversation. It wasn’t the
time or the place to catch up on days gone by.
I took some time to
look at the many photo boards that were lined up
adjacent to the viewing chapel. Most of the photos
were scuba diving related which I thought were most
appropriate because she loved scuba diving. She had
traveled to many places both in the U.S. and abroad.
While looking at those
photos it hit me. I had not yet heard that phrase
people often say when something like this happens
–“At least she died doing what she loved”. Hearing
that, you begin to think about your own mortality.
When I hear that
phrase I think to myself- “that’s the last way I
want to go” – “doing what I love to do”. It would
only cast a dark shadow on all the enjoyment that
scuba diving has afforded me over the past 30 years.
Why not go at work?
Most people hate their jobs anyway. I’ve never heard
anyone say, “At least they died at work and not
while doing something they loved”.
I’ve now lost three
friends who died while scuba diving. One died while
exploring the wreck of the Andrea Doria. Another
died in a quarry. This most recent event occurred
off the N.J. coast. All were determined to be
medical related and not diver error or equipment
malfunction.
But some things never
change and people will always remember that they
died while scuba diving followed by that dreadful
phrase – “At least they died doing what they loved”.
Is that the way you
want to be most remembered?
Not me, but I guess it
really doesn’t matter – you’re gone anyway.
G.S.
March 9,
2009
Welcome to
my web site. Despite the name and its connection to the
sea, you probably realized this site goes far beyond the
world down under. While the primary intention is to showcase
my diving and marine related subjects, my photographic
interests are wide spread.
I've had a
camera in my hands since the age of 15. I built
a makeshift darkroom in my Mother’s laundry room and
spent many hours developing black & white prints. In
those days, my career ambition was to become a professional
photographer.
But after high
school, my career path led me in other directions,
though I
always managed to keep a hand in photography and years
later, videography. Nowadays, I occasionally accept a
photographic assignment and continue to freelance for a
local TV-News station.
I invite
you to browse the web site, even the non-diving areas. I
am working on new content all the time and will try to
provide updates on a regular basis.
GS
