Article Contributed on: 1/14/2009 10:34:27 PM
Derek Prosser's business is taking a dive - and that's the whole point.
In a state known for its elevation and semi-arid climate, Prosser, owner of Underwater Phantaseas, 160 S. Union Blvd., makes it his mission to send Coloradans slightly below a mile high.
Specializing in scuba (self-contained underwater breathing apparatus) certification, classes, equipment, repair and travel, Underwater Phantaseas is one of approximately 12 scuba shops in the metro area.
"The reason (we're successful) is that Colorado has a lot of outdoor people," Prosser said.
Prosser said winter can get long for his nearly 8,000 customers, who can head into the mountains year-round.
"So when they want to take a vacation, they go to the beach," Prosser said.
But before hitting the beach, students have to hit Underwater Phantaseas' indoor, heated, salt-water pool.
A scuba open water certification, which never expires, allows divers to rent equipment and explore waters around the world. Certification requires approximately 12 hours of combined class and pool time and four open water dives over two days.
Besides certification courses, which are for ages 10 and older, the store offers everything from two-hour introductory classes, specialty classes and instructor training to birthday parties and trips across the globe.
"There's lots of variety depending on experience," Prosser said.
Experience is one thing divers can definitely find through scuba.
"It's almost limitless where you can go," Prosser said.
Prosser has dived with everything from fish and turtles to orcas and sharks.
"I've been able to dive off six of the seven continents," Prosser said, who is working on planning a trip to dive in Antarctica. "There's so much more life on a dive (than a hike), it's mind blowing."
Prosser said the most popular destination for local divers is Cozumel, Mexico because besides great dives, the city has good food, interesting night life and the flight is only three hours.
"You can be diving the same day you leave Denver," Prosser said.
In the metro area, people dive in Aurora and Chatfield Reservoirs. Underwater Phantaseas also organizes an annual treasure hunt and barbecue for divers at Lake Turquoise, near Leadville.
"It gives people a change to do a mountain lake dive," said Prosser, who offers a specialty class for high altitude diving.
Prosser's diving career began when he saw a scuba poster while in a college algebra class. He left school and has been diving ever since.
Scuba started as spear fishing with homemade equipment, became mainstream in the late 1970s and 80s and is continuing to gain popularity, Prosser said.
"Scuba has grown every year historically, except the year Jaws came out," Prosser said.
Sea creatures and relying on equipment are common apprehensions when beginning scuba, Prosser said. Unlike swimmers and surfers who often are attacked because of mistaken identity, being completely submersed allows you to be seen clearly as something that is not a food source or threat, Prosser said.
"It's an extremely safe sport," Prosser said, "According to accident reports, it's right on par with bowling."
For more information, call Underwater Phantaseas at 303-988-6725 or go to
www.uwphantaseas.com.