Pacific Adventure

We're a family with an adventurous spirit. We work hard to have fun. Looking back it seems our lives have been spent working to find ways to spend more time on (and in) the water. We're just ordinary people that have been fortunate to live what some would consider an unusual lifestyle.

For years Diane and I had been self employed. We owned a successful John Deere dealership in Silverdale, working long hours and taking the kids to the shop to work on weekends. For a lot of reasons we decided life was too short to continue the work schedule we had while raising a family. We wanted to have some fun and adventure with our children. We had a dream and started to push aside the obstacles that were between us and that dream. In 1995 we sold our power equipment business. With our two teenagers , Mike (13) and Krista (11), we cast off the lines and set off on a sailing voyage that lasted four years. We had already lived on the water aboard our 41 foot sailboat for three years and we were ready for adventure!

Our first summer was spent exploring S.E. Alaska. One summer is definitely not enough time! The awesome beauty and expanse of the north coast of British Columbia and South East Alaska is more than I can describe. Our introductory tour took us from Port Ludlow, Wa. to Ketchikan to Skagway and back by way of Misty Fjords, Wrangell, Petersburg, Juneau, Haines, Sitka and Craig, then on back down the inside passage. Ask us about our trip when you come diving with us!

We spent another cold and wet winter in the Puget Sound area before heading south to Mexico. We spent two winters and a summer in Mexico exploring the waters between Bahia de Los Angeles to the north and Zihuatanejo to the south. Snorkeling, free diving and spear fishing in the summer in the Sea of Cortez. Winters further south on the mainland enjoying reunions with friends and experiencing the wonderful Mexican people and culture. If you get us started talking about Mexico we might not have time to dive!

Then we got the bug to sail to Hawaii. Twenty nine days after saying "Adios" to our friends in Puerto Vallarta, we said "Aloha" to new friends in Hilo. We enjoyed the Hawaiian people and their lifestyle for a full year (Don's still stuck on island time). In Hawaii Don became a PADI instructor and started thinking seriously about how he could return to Seattle, use and share the things we learned on our trip, and not fall into the frantic lifestyle he knew he was heading for. Again, after saying "Aloha" to our friends in Hawaii, we set sail for Victoria B.C. and Seattle (21 day trip this time, but it was cold!). More good stories we love to share.

After returning to Seattle both Don and Diane got conventional jobs working to build up the "cruising kitty". Mike and Kris have moved on to live their lives, we all cherish the memories of the adventures we shared.

After over three years of trying to work for someone else Don decided he's unsuited for "conventional" employment. "Pacific Adventure" is now a full time endeavor. Don loves to share his knowledge, skills and experience both on and in the water, teaching and helping people understand and appreciate the incredible resources available to us.

Diane is more successful fitting into society and works hard to juggle her schedule. She works for a corporation in Bellevue, she's a bookkeeper at the marina, and she works as a boat captain on "Down Time".

Both Don and Diane have been sailing the waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific for over 20 years. We have thousands of miles under our keel in open ocean and inland waters in all kinds of weather. Don has been a USCG Master, 50 ton unlimited passengers, since 1995 and a PADI instructor since the spring of 1999. Diane has been a USCG Master, 50 ton unlimited passengers, since the spring of 2002.

Now it's almost fall of 2006! We've been diving central Hood Canal for almost 5 years now! We've retired the old Down Time and in July this year started working the new Down Time! We re-fit a 1968 Chris Craft Commander for diving by cutting two transom doors, adding a custom dive platform and ladder, benches, canvas, a roomy head and the other gear we need for comfortable diving. She's been working great, everyone enjoys the extra room and speed. Over the past 5 years we've assisted in 4 water rescues (not diving related but other boats in need of help), towed disabled boats back to harbor, assisted boaters with fouled props, given directions and met lots of great people. Diane and I still live aboard our Sail Boat in Pleasant Harbor. Our daughter Krista and her husband Mike are frequently diving with us on Sundays.

Thank You to each and every diver and passenger that has trusted us to take them out on the water! We've enjoyed having every single one of you aboard. Think about what that says about the diving community! Where else can you meet over a thousand different people, spend at least 5 hours with them in a confined space without escape, and still have a great time!

The Adventure Continues

Thank You !