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On becoming a Shark Whisperer, Part 2

Shockingly, there are places to go SCUBA diving in Utah.  Now, in case those of you who live near the ocean don’t get the irony of that statement, let me explain:

• The Rocky Mountains run down the eastern side of Utah.
• The Great Basin Desert, a giant expanse of nothing but salt and sad, take over the western side of Utah.
• Red Rock Country (places like Moab and St. George) take up the bulk of the southern parts of the state.
• Arguably, we have the best skiing in the country.

Geographically speaking, Utah almost has a personality disorder.  Mountains, desert, red rock, skiing…where does that leave year-round SCUBA diving?

I was shocked when I saw the list of several dozen bodies of water one could go SCUBA diving in this great state.  Particularly, where one could go SCUBA diving all year long, sub-zero temperatures and everything.  Here’s the scoop–Utah has several volcanic hot-pots that are deep enough to dive.  Who knew!?

In order to get certified as a SCUBA diver you need four dives under your belt.  A couple of hours north of Salt Lake is CamperWorld, previously known as Belmont Hot Springs which just sounds so much nicer.  At any rate, CamperWorld/Belmont there are several mineral hot springs that are over twenty-five feet deep and naturally kept at 93-95 degrees year-round.  The best part, there is absolutely no smell of sulphur, which would make me nauseus in 4 minutes flat.

The day Handsome & I drove north to Belmont it was crazy-raining.  We’re talking, CRAZY raining.  Inches and inches of raining; which, while your in a heated automobile with snacks is just fine.  But when you’re scampering around in a swimming suit and flip-flops trying to haul an 80 lb. SCUBA vest and tank 300 yards to the actual pool…um, it’s not so fine.  You can’t even imagine how excited I was to jump into the 90-something degree water.  Ahhhh, heaven!

It was a long day of floating, diving and hanging out in the water.  And by the end of the day I was offiically certified as a SCUBA diver, and starving.

Our SCUBA class (all 30 of us!) went to Maddox Steakhouse, a Brigham City landmark, where I had my first Buffalo steak.  It was alright, not as lean as I expected it to be–everyone tells me buffalo meat is super-lean—but it was fantastic and their rolls are to die for.

Today I am getting my Advanced Open Water SCUBA Certification in a volcanic crater in Midway, Utah.  I’m making sure to take a camera with me so you can see what it’s like to go SCUBA diving in a dormant volcanic crater at 5,600 feet.

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