It is September and the months that I had been longing for have come to an abrupt end. Caretaking camping weekends will start being shorter, diving days will be less, and hot days spent by the water will soon be over. All winter I had heard about how awesome summer was from AmeriCorps members who have been here in the warmer months and from members of the public. “The summer is awesome”, “you’re going to love diving” and “the lake is so beautiful”. Holy cow, was everyone right. This summer has flown. It seems like in a blink it has come and gone and while there still a couple weeks left, the fall weather seems to be moving in.
My time is coming to an end at the SLA and while I am excited for new horizons and the future, I will not forget the time I have spent here. The Squam Lakes Association has provided me with an opportunity to do something I have always wanted but never had the chance, scuba diving. From the first time I put the wet suit on and got into the water, even though it was just in a pool I knew it was something I would want to do for the rest of my life. I love being by the water, boating and fishing, I expected to like diving, but I did not expect to fall in love with it like I have.
I took every opportunity to dive that I could. I would switch shifts with people and wanted to be on the dive boat every day it was going out. I hated seeing it come back in in the afternoon when I would be bundling or splitting wood, knowing I wasn’t on it. The days spent out there would fly, the time in the water would fly, and to be able to make a difference while doing something I love has been so rewarding. Seeing locations on the lakes and in the river that were traditionally forests of Variable milfoil, now have none, is insane. To see photographs from above of how these locations used to be, and then being in the water and seeing them now, shows that the work we do here is making a huge difference. Every day on the dive boat is amazing and the times and laughs I have shared with my co-servers will not be soon forgotten. Of all the conservation work I have done, having been her for almost a year now, the diving has been the most rewarding to me. Being in the water, feeling weightless and seeing the service we are doing really payoff, is incredible and gives my effort real meaning. I am so grateful for the SLA to give me this opportunity and to give me the chance to dive, it is something I will do for the rest of my life.
Cole enjoys spending time with his family, getting out on the water, and all things boats. You can read more about Cole here.