Mermaids, Sharks
Scuba Dive Here
jf^iumlyer, Simp6ony ^nitructin
C^liowaniand in lAJater and
Mention the word plumber and
people immediately think of clogged
drains, overflowing bathrooms and
costly bills. That is, unless they
know Ralph Simpson, licensed Plum
ber and Maintenance man for Cho
wan.
Simpson is not only a first class
plumber, but he has worked as a
scuba diver in New York, New Jer
sey and the Bahamas.
His scuba diving talents don’t go
to waste at Chowan. He teaches a
class in the underwater art in the
college’s pool daily during the lunch
hour and two nights a week.
Eighteen students, including seven
girls, started the course and “others
are trying to join everyday,” Simp
son says.
Simpson has also done some hard
hat diving. Hard hat requires a pres
sure suit and scuba diving is done
ig
^un
with just a mask and air tank. He
attended the New York Salvage Div
ing School and worked for three New
York companies before coming to
Chowan.
He hopes to take his class to White
Lake “as soon as the weather
breaks,” so he can give each student
a chance to dive at depths of 25, 50,
and 75 feet, “if possible.”
Students will be instructed to work
underwater, he explains. Each will
be given four boards, a hammer and
some nails and will be taught to make
a box while underwater.
“It is hard since you are fighting
both gravity and buoyancy,” he says.
Hammer and nails sink if dropped,
but boards float to the top.
Members of the college class have
formed a club, calling themselves
the Chowan Sharks and Mermaids.
2
Simpson instructs Greg Mensinger and Marie Christian in the college’s pool.
Preparing equipment and testing water are mermaids and sharks Greg Mensinger, June Styron, instructor Simpson, Marie Christian, David Lawson, Jr.,
and, in the water. Bill McNeil, Vernon Lupton and Bob Baughn.
for March, 1967
PAGE ELEVEN