12 years old and living under water?  Who would want to at any age?  If it was up to Cadet Airman Bitters and Marshall that's exactly what they would do after this experience.  Members of the Dallas Composite Squadron enjoyed an evening of "Cadet Discover Scuba."  As you might guess, not all interested squadron members where cadets.  You know we have to have those seniors there to supervise.

Ocean's Window, Plano, Texas, arranged for the squadron to explore scuba diving in their spacious indoor pool.  With half the pool at a level 4 feet and the other half at 16 feet, it was perfect for learning scuba diving.  Its 90-degree water temperature was an added bonus.  Ocean's Window (OW) team member John Ryder, certified PADI instructor, took on the supervisory function supported by OW's Lou Montonio, Terry Moore and Phil Norton.

The event was very Professionally run.  Ocean's Window started the squadron out with classroom instruction and video's on what to expect and how to perform in the pool.  Even now, you could see the anxiety in the eyes of some of our future aquanauts, but soon they where all eagerly heading for the water.
The dive shop supplied everything for the squadron: masks, regulators, tanks, fins and, oh yes, air.  They had plenty of everything (particularly the air) which allowed everyone to participate simultaneously.

Our squadron junior flyboys suited up and circled into the 4-foot end of the pool.  After a check up,

everyone just plopped down and sat on the bottom of the pool and for the first time in their lives, breathed underwater.  It was exhilarating, and after about three minutes they all stood up, removed their mouthpiece and couldn't quit talking about the experience.  John Ryder taught everyone how to recover their mouthpiece underwater, clear their ears, emergency signals (ya can't talk under water) and how to