Unlock the Ocean Portal - Creating Memories at Rainbow River

An otter is playing in the water, he is jumping his slim body on the surface and then he disappears. A gar is watching us from a distance. Small fish have gathered behind my son’s back and fins, while he is doing his scuba skills to become a certified diver. It is as if the fish is playing with him behind his back: "Ha, you can’t see us!”

We are in Rainbow River, the spring that in the 1930s was a well-known attraction for both adults and children, having waterfalls, seawalls, a lodge, a gift shop and a reptile exhibition. It got even more developed in the '60s with glass bottom boats, a leaf shaped gondola, submarine boat tours, river boats and a horse rodeo.

Today Rainbow River State Park is a park with canoes, kayaks and tubes, but probably more known for its snorkling and diving. My family, with me in front of the troop, discovered this gem pretty early after moving to Florida and I have happily taken visitors from Sweden there for a half day of kayaking and snorkling.

But we are here today (10th of Dec. 2012, so yesterday) to certify my youngest son to become a diver. My husband is a dive instructor and my son is his first student, so they are both excited. I have joined them at this beautiful place, about two hours away from our dive shop to enjoy a dive, take pictures, but also to be there when my son is becoming a scuba diver. Bjorn is now the fifth member of the Monroe family to become a scuba diver, and I also have a cousin who is a scuba diver in Sweden.

I am so happy to be part of this; scuba diving is such a great way to spend time and experiences together!