October 3, 1997

A hobby worth diving into

by Robin Dumestre, Office of Public Affairs summer intern

Until the Rev. James Carter, S.J., retired as president and became Loyola's first chancellor, few knew about his favorite hobby. However, his retirement gift from Loyola was a clue: He received a fully outfitted wetsuit with scuba gear and cameras. "There is nothing like it," Carter said, referring to the peacefulness and beauty of the underwater world.

Carter was introduced to diving in the late '60s by the architect who was building Monroe Hall. After some lessons, he went on his first big dive trip to Belize with a friend who owned a dive shop. Since then, he has been to such exotic diving locations as Grand Cayman, Cozumel, Hawaii, and the underwater park in Key Largo.

Though diving is definitely a way to relive stress, Carter explained diving in itself also can be stressful. The equipment must be fastened safely and many precautions must be taken in order to really enjoy the world 80 feet below the sea.

Enjoying the underwater world is definitely what Carter does, even when he is on land. The cameras given to him by Loyola enables the chancellor to share the beautiful video footage and still shots with those not fortunate enough to see it first hand. "The equipment and technology have changed so much over 20 years," he noted. Yet, Carter emphasized, the true beauty and passion he experienced on his first dive has remained constant.