The guys that mentored me are all long gone. I used brass for teething rings on my kids, taught them hunting/camping/reloading and general shooting. I try to teach newbie's when I can!
You know, I get as big a kick from mentoring as I do shooting!
I can relate to your story.
Dan

never really considered scuba diving, always figured it was to expensive for my budget, oh and once you leave land and are swimming in salt water, your just bait. believe me it takes all the nerve I can muster to throw 10#'s of bloody meat on a hook, drop it in my kayak and plow out through the surf a couple hundred yards and drop it, but its what ya gotta do.
RR

It can be basic certification is bout 450. You can rent ur gear. If you buy it it can cost as low as bout 2k to 20 grand for everything. Its like hunting its expensive if u make it or get into it deep. Between me and my dad id say weve dropped 12,000to15,000 on it

I've always thought I'd enjoy scuba diving. I've done some snorkling, but never diving.
-Jake

Its truely a blast once you get comfortable breathing underwater its like ur on another plant. And shark attacks with divers is rather pretty rare