Spirit of Underwater Encounters

INFORMATION ABOUT AUTHOR- VIRGINIA HUERLIN LONG CROSS PADI #3271 'FLIPPER' Also American Red Cross Water Safety Instructor Trainer All my life I've loved the water ever since my parents signed me up for ARC swimming classes when I was a wee one. My Dad, tried to teach me, but didn't know the techniques in training. It was more of sink or swim approach with my Dad trying to really help. It was then my Mother enrolled me in the Red Cross program. You see, my Mother didn't know how to swim, although she had been out in the water in a row boat many times. She realized that I would be out in the water for the rest of my life loving it. So the first swim class started at Lincoln Park in Spokane Wa. as I remember it. From there my Mom would press her nose up against the screened in public swimming pool and watch me learn how to swim. I remember the test day when it came to swim across the deep end of the pool, the whole width. The pool was freshly refilled with ice-cold water and the sun didn't come down over the bluffs until late in the morning. I remember my Instructor asking the whole class if any of them felt ready to take the final swim test. Well, being little and didn't want to miss out on the test, I raised my hand and said 'yes'. I could have waited a couple more days when the Class was over with, but I didn't understand and signed up the early test. It was my turn! The Instructor was standing on the pool deck. My Mother's nose once again pressed against the screened in area watching. Well I made the plunge into the cold water and started to swim across the width in the deep end. Half way across I went down and sank to the bottom of the pool. There I was, knowing my Instructor would come down and rescue me. She did. The test was cancelled for me and my Instructor was heaping mad at me cause she had to dive down in that cold water to rescue me. I was confident she would, but I failed the test. I did however two days later was able to retake the test again, only the water was by now warmer and I did make the swim across the deep end of the pool with success. This taught me a lesson something I will never forget. Later in years at 18 yes, I became a Swim Instructor and well remember the feeling of water over my head. It made it easy for me to understand how other little ones learning to swim, might feel for the first time. After all four feet standing in the water at a pool and then learning how to float on your back could feel like you were four hundred feet deep to a kid. This taught me how to teach first class swim lessons hands on experience with out fear, and to learn to love the water. Later on, moving to Whidbey Island, surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, I met Monte Merserve and this is where the first chapter begins. Since then I still teach ARC Swim Lessons to others, and became a PADI Swim Instructor teaching scuba diving for fifteen years at The Principia Upper School. Since then I've been Scuba Diving around the world and meeting new friends in the World of waters. This is my love now to share some of my experiences and joy throughout the world. I am currently teaching International students swimming where we all learn to hug the water and make it our new best friend with Love! Blowing bubbles with joy. 'Flipper' vhcross@att.net Virginia Huerlin Long Cross PADI#3172 NOTE: YEARS 2014-2015, 14 GOLD MEDALS was won at Senior Olympics each year in swimming, showing it can be done. Held at St. Louis Mo. VHC Picture and Records are attached. "FLIPPER"