Get In The Water
David Glasco Jun 21, 2026
Every summer feels a little different, and they all seem to begin the same way.
One day, almost without noticing, you start thinking about diving again.
Maybe it's the longer days. Maybe it's the warmer water. Maybe it's simply seeing your gear sitting in the corner, waiting for its next adventure. Whatever the reason, there comes a point each year when diving shifts from something you'll get around to eventually something you actively plan again.
For many divers, winter is a kind of surface interval. Life gets busy. Work, family, and other commitments naturally take priority. Time in the water becomes less frequent. There is nothing unusual about that. What always surprises me is how quickly it comes back.
A few dives.
A little time underwater.
The familiar rhythm returns.
Your breathing slows. Your awareness expands. Small adjustments that once required thought become automatic again. Before long, you're no longer thinking about diving. You're simply diving.
That feeling is one of the things I love most about this sport.
At Tom's, we often talk about training, equipment, travel, and new experiences. All of those things matter. They make us safer, more capable, and more confident divers. But none of them is the reason most of us started diving in the first place.
We started because we were curious.
Curious about what lies beneath the surface.
Curious about places we've never seen.
Curious about what we might discover about ourselves when we step outside our comfort zone and try something new.
That curiosity is what keeps many of us diving for decades.
One of the themes you'll find throughout this month's newsletter is that growth comes in many forms.
For some divers, growth means pursuing new training. Sometimes it's a specialty course that helps you refine a skill. Sometimes it's about learning to navigate more confidently, improving your buoyancy, or becoming more comfortable in a challenging environment. Every skill you develop adds another layer of confidence and capability.
For others, growth comes from exploring a completely different side of diving. This month, Paul shares his perspective on rebreathers. Many recreational divers see rebreathers as something reserved for technical divers, but the real story is not the equipment. It's the experience. The silence. The efficiency. The opportunity to experience the underwater world from a different perspective.
Growth also comes from community.
One of the lessons I've learned over the years is that some of the most memorable parts of diving have very little to do with the dive itself. They have to do with the people. Dive buddies who become friends. Instructors who become mentors. Fellow travelers who become part of your story.
Scott's article on Tom's Dive Team highlights something I believe strongly. Diving is easier and more enjoyable when you have people to dive with. The Dive Team and the Austin Aquanauts provide opportunities to stay active, build experience, and share adventures with people who enjoy the sport as much as you do.
Of course, adventure remains one of the greatest rewards of diving.
Gary's reflections on Kauai reminded me of how fortunate divers are to be part of a global community. No matter where you travel, there is usually a dive shop, a boat, and a group of divers ready to help you explore someplace new. The underwater world has a remarkable way of making distant places feel familiar.
Travel continues to be one of the most rewarding ways to grow as a diver. Spending several days in the water allows skills to sharpen naturally and confidence to build dive after dive. This year, we are looking forward to trips to Dominica, Grand Cayman, Fiji, and several additional destinations that we will announce soon. Every trip offers an opportunity to see something new, meet interesting people, and create memories that stay with you long after you return home.
The common thread connecting all of these opportunities is not training, equipment, travel, or even community.
It is participation.
The best divers are rarely the ones with the most certifications or the newest gear. They are the ones who continue showing up. They continue learning. They continue exploring. Most importantly, they continue getting in the water.
As you read through this month's articles, I hope you find something that inspires you. A class. An event. A trip. A new skill. A new experience.
Whatever it is, don't wait too long.
Summer is here.
The water is waiting.
We'll see you underwater.
David Glasco, Scott Parker, and Reem Glasco
Tom's Dive & Swim