[tierra]     One day I came accidently to the Marina Hemmingway diving center (having nothing to do). I found a diving instructor there and spoke him. We were talking a few minutes about the underwater world and then I got an excelent idea. "Could I pass a course a diving here in Marina?" - I asked him. He answered me immediately: "OK, prepare yourself, the boat leaves in 15 minutes". Hmmm, why not... We were two spanish tourists, two cuban instructors and me. They took us to the shallow water and showed how to use the equipment. This took maybe 15 or 20 minutes, no theory, no preparation - we went directly to the sea. Each instructor took one spanish guy and I was told to keep close :-). I had no idea how to dive but I followed them. So I jumped from the boat and started my first dive. 42 minutes in 18 metres passed incredibly fast. I was a little nervous. Then we ascended to the surface and I told to myself that diving was not so dificult at all. As you see, diving is soooo easy :-) On the next day I was supposed to take a lesson of theory. But...I came to the Marina and the instructors were busy. A group of 9 americans came to dive. "Anyway, you can join us." - they told me. OK, so I took the equipment and entered the boat. All americans were already experienced divers and I was the youngest greenhorn :-). Well, although first they thought I was Cuban finaly they accepted me as a member of their group (greetings to all, especially to Kim and that lady bitten by a jellyfish - sorry, I forgot your name - and to the black guy taking pictures of me - you should send me one, man :-). One of the instructors started to give us info about the diving site. I still remember the name - Paraguas de Baracoa. The diving time was planned to 30 minutes and the max depth was 35 meters... Wow, I did not expect such deep dive, nevertheless, I made it and survived. It was wonderfull... After a one-hour rest we made another dive to 20 meters. And one week later I received my certification. So that is how I started diving... The beauty of deap sea world...(El Canto de Santa Fe, La Habana)