So my summer has begun! My first real experience for the internship is spending three days at Undersea Divers learning to fill tanks and generally how a dive shop works. Undersea Divers is basically a dive shop in Beverly MA that offers tank fills, gear maintenance and all sorts of training. The shop is run by Bobby Boyle, Sea Rovers 2013 Diver of the year and strong supporter of the internship. Every year he donates a set of dive gear that really helps make the internship possible.
So I spent most of my time with Shawn (Mr. Boyle, his daughter, and Shawn are the only ones who run the shop) following him around the shop. I think I got very good at vacuuming and cramming cardboard recycling boxes into a van! But seriously as far as dive experience I got to really learn how to service a regulator (1st and 2nd stage), fill tanks, ring up orders, and talk to customers about diving. I thought it was really neat to get a kind of “backstage pass” to see how his shop really works, and considering I had never really filled a tank before it was very educational and enjoyable! I forgot to get a picture with everyone though, so I may have to return eventually!