I kind of wonder if this next diver thought I forgot about his interview. I’m here to tell you I didn’t forget! So back around the second or third week of January Kent Hogan came into the shop with a new diver to sign up for classes. He told me I needed to interview the “new kid” but I told him I needed to interview him (as in Kent). Kent asked why I wanted to interview him and I explained about this weekly blog post series. To convince him to let me interview him I had to promise him a cup of coffee, which I may or may not have given him yet… one may never know. So on this lovely rainy day in March (don’t complain!) let me introduce you to Pastor Kent Hogan.
How did you get started diving?
My son Jared and his wife Melissa went to Cozumel in Feb/Mar 2010. We always went camping at Stockton and we always snorkeled. In 2003 we started looking into Scuba Diving but didn’t know about Extreme Sports Scuba and the shop we looked in to was more than we could afford at the time. Then my son found Extreme Sports Scuba in either 2009 or 2010 and got certified and I followed in August of 2010.
How long have you been diving?
Since August 2010.
How many dives do you make in a typical year?
I average 25 per year.
What other hobbies do you have?
I love to preach, Deer hunt, Turkey hunt and Fish.
Where is your favorite place to dive?
The only Ocean dive I’ve made was Jupiter Florida so for now we’ll go with that. I made that in 2011 and were able to do 2 boat dives.
What is your most comical dive experience?
Just last year at Stockton lake, my son in law (Sam Davis) and I were diving. Something felt weird and I went back to feel for my tank and I couldn’t feel my tank. I hadn’t strapped it in so my son in law had to save me from that.
What is your occupation?
Preacher.
Words of wisdom/tips or tricks for fellow divers?
Going through my class I got tired of having to do mask skills. My very first lake dive after I was certified I got into some tree limbs and it pulled my mask off so without that training I would have freaked out. Continue training and if you can go back through classes, especially open water classes because you are never to old to learn.
Dan La Due would always tell me that it’s good to get as much education and training as you can. It’s not training that makes you a better diver, it’s the training that gives you tools to become a better diver.