Father and son team dives into history
Contributed by Andy Ogburn Wateree Dive Center

Photo by Michael Bradshaw (L- r) Larry Ogburn, Will Roberts, and Andy Ogburn post WW's Mark V dive.

For the past 30 years, father and son team, Larry and Andy Ogburn have worked side by side in the SCUBA diving industry. They have seen major changes in equipment and curriculum criteria. The modern day equipment is lighter weight and more comfortable, which is in direct contrast to the equipment from the budding days of SCUBA diving and classes are designed for both young and young at heart to enjoy and understand. For their first 30 years in the industry, Andy and Larry wanted to offer something distinctive to their dive clientele. Over the weekend of September 28- 30, they presented their customers with the opportunity to dive an authentic U.S. Navy Model 1 Mark V Diving System from 1944.

The Wateree Dive Center held a classroom session to familiarize 10 fortunate students with the history of the suit as well as the proper ways to assemble and dive the divers' dress, breastplate, helmet, communications unit and air delivery system on September 28, 2007. The night was capped when one lucky student, Bryan Kyzer, was fully "dressed" in over 200 pounds of the MK V system.

A group photo of divers after dive at the Wateree Dive Center's "Dive into History Museum. (L- r) Darcy Templeton, Sam Templeton, Bob Bell, Larry Ogburn, Will Roberts, Larry Smith, Michael Bradshaw, and Bryan Kyzer

Saturday and Sunday followed with actual openwater experiences for all 10 MK V students at a local dive site. This was the highlight for divers after weeks of anticipation to dive the suit. Justin Lee celebrated his 17th birthday in the MKV system, and his 51st dive. Sam Templeton celebrated his birthday inside the suit as the surface support team sang "Happy Birthday" through the surface to diver communication unit.

Will Roberts dove the suit to commemorate his 10th year of diving, while Larry Ogburn used the weekend to honor 50 years of diving. Two female divers, Carrie Miller and Darcy Templeton, made the walk in the heavy shoes and brass collar.

With the close of the diving activities, everyone came back to the shop to celebrate the achievements of all the divers and finish the paperwork for their Surface Supplied Air Certifications.

MK V Diver at the surface at Lake Murray

As time passes by, what will the next 30 years in the SCUBA industry bring for Wateree Dive Center?