I grew up in the midwest and was 16 before I even saw the ocean for the first time.  On a spring break trip with a girlfriend, I met Miami, and then the ocean!  I was in love.  As soon as I could I moved to Miami.  

Ever since, my passion has been the ocean.  I took up diving before I completed my Marine Biology studies.  I met Andy in a beginning SCUBA class.  Andy was from Miami but was just learning to love the ocaen.  Andy felt just as awkward as I did in flippers and with a regulator.  We bonded over the "buddy breathing" and have been together ever since.

I grew up in Miami but since my parents weren't ocean lovers, I didn't spend much time at the beach.  It wasn't until a friend of mine talked me into taking this SCUBA certification class that I really fell in love with the ocean -- and then of course, Alyssa too.  She says we bonded over buddy breathing but I know I loved her as soon as I saw her.  Corny yes.  But it's the truth.

As Alyssa has completed her studies, we've enjoyed many tropical and diving adventures together.  Somehow, as a writer, I've been able to count them as "work" and get paid to travel, dive and be with Alyssa.  I really am the luckiest guy in the world.