So, for our 1 year anniversary, my wife and I are going to be in the Sanfransico Bay area.  We got married on September 17 last year.  She has a big test (she's getting her PHD at the UofC - that C is for Chicago you Californians) around that time so it will be the 3rd week before we can actually go on our trip.  I've got clearance to go on 1 or 2 dives.  I've been looking at the Monterey area.  Does anyone have any suggestions as to what dives to do and who to go through?  Keep in mind I'm a slight newb.  I'm kind of interested in shore dives.  I've never done one and I think it'd be fun.

My wife's goal is to become a teacher after she graduates.  She's been looking at UC San Diego as a potential school she'd like to teach at.  I'll admit, this would be A-OK by me.  Of course I'll go wherever she really wants, but that would be great.  It'll be a couple years before that happens so I shouldn't get too excited.  But a guy can dream, eh?

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In an effort to spend even more money, I've been looking at underwater photography.  I've found a great website that many are probably familiar with: wetpixel.  I love browsing the forums looking at peoples galleries.  I think perhaps I'll eBay my film SLR and look at getting a digital SLR.  Tana (my wife) would really like it I think.  We have a point and shoot digital camera that we've been enjoying, but the flexibility of different lenses really is fun.  Tana likes telephotos.  I'd like to try some wide angle shots.  We both love to travel so I think it would be a good investment.  Although, maybe I just like toys.  My boss has a Nikon D70 and loves it.  He was a professional photographer before he was an engineer (he decided he like to eat - his words, not mine).  It would seem that this camera is also a favorite of armature underwater photographers as well.

However, before I take the plunge into UW photography, I need to master my boyancy and get comfy with my own equipment.  Task loading is a sure way to invite problems.

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Thanks for all the comments.  I'm really glad you like the links.  The great thing about the interweb is how one can be reading about one thing, and soon is browsing topics that he/she has never even though of reading about.  It excites me the amount of information that is out there.  That is provided by many people who are just enthusiasts makes it even better.  What cool times we live in.  Hopefully we can make it available to more and more people throughout the world.