此内容暂无简体中文译文，以下为英文原文。
Historical October 1991 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
A splashy new trend has surfaced in the Skinker-DeBaliviere Neighborhood, a recreational activity intended to make waves.
The phenomenon is the number of newly certified scuba divers.
In the past year, no fewer than 15 residents have qualified as open water divers.
The youngest is 13-year-old Max Ferrigni of 63xx Westminster, who took lessons with brother Tycho, while the oldest is recent Post-Dispatch retiree Art Santen of 61xx McPherson. Bryan Gerard of 4xx Westgate got into diving through the St. Roch’s Boy Scout troop as did Scout Master Dennis Mattli. Three couples became certified: Dan and Xenia Naert and Bob and Nancy Klepper of the 63xx block of Washington and Randy and Ann Lipton of 63xx Waterman. Westminster neighbors Jim Merlo and Chris Hexter also took the plunge as did good friends Gary Hayes and Sandy Rothschild. Gary and Sandy were motivated to take up diving in advance of a vacation to the Caribbean Island of Aruba this summer with wives Dee and Sue. Diver’s certification is earned by completing seven 4-hour courses and an open water diving test.
The classes include two hours of lecture on various aspects of diving and two hours of pool time to develop and master required diving skills. Classes are held at various YMCA’s in the St. Louis area with the closest location being the Brentwood Y. Classes are sponsored by Y-KiKi Divers and the St. Louis Metropolitan YMCAs. Y-KiKi is a dive shop in Creve Coeur.
The course, which costs $100, is planned and certified by NAUI the National Association of Underwater Instructors and the YMCA.
After demonstrating successful mastery of required pool skills and passing a written test, students are eligible to take their open water exam, the final requirement in becoming certified.
The most common location for St. Louis area students to fulfill this requirement is Norfork Lake. Arkansas. Once certified, divers obtain a C-card which enables them to rent scuba tanks and gear around the world.
The initial diver qualification level is Open Water I. Divers can progress to Open Water II by completing a series of supervised dives and can take additional class work for certification as Advanced Divers and Master Divers. Specialty courses are also available in such areas as Coral Reef Ecology. Wreck Diving and Under Water Photography. Greg Hoffmann of 63xx Westminster can claim credit for stimulating a good deal of the interest among the neighborhood’s new divers. Greg is a certified NAUI instructor and is also the assistant scout master for the St. Roch’s Boy Scout Troop.
The September issue of the Times covered the troop’s snorkeling expedition to Florida. Five of our new divers pursued scuba certification after that exposure to diving.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, October 1991.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1991_10.pdf, printed page(s) 8; PDF page(s) 8.
