The Last Warm Weekend: Two Kids, One Lake, and a Whole Lot of Heart

November 15–16, Lake Phoenix, VA

There is always one weekend at the end of the season when the weather gives you a tiny window and says,
“Alright, you get one more shot before winter tries to kill everything.”
This year, that weekend landed on November 15–16 at Lake Phoenix.
The very last moment of mercy before the polar vortex rolled in like a cranky sea monster.All week the forecast bounced around. Nights dropping toward freezing. Water stuck at sixty degrees.
I worried the kids might decide this was too much.
Not because they are soft.
Because sixty degree water is not a joke.

But these two showed up ready. They knew their gear. They knew their skills. They trusted the work they put in.
And they did not just get through the cold. They dominated it.

They absolutely crushed it.

Cold Water, Warm Courage

When they stepped onto the dock you could feel the mix of nerves and excitement that makes you remember your own first dives.

Diver performing a giant stride entry with instructor spotting — First step into a bigger world. Clean giant stride. Zero hesitation.

Giant stride.
One breath.
Mask secured.
And in they went.

They handled their skills with calm focus.
Mask clearing.
Buoyancy checks.
Air sharing.
Steady work, steady breathing, steady progress.

Young diver taking a giant stride with teal fins — This moment right here. Pure courage. Cold water, warm heart.

You could watch their confidence grow in real time. The spark moment when a kid realizes,
“I can do this” might be one of the best parts of this job. It never gets old.

Dad Gets Gold Stars Too

Some parents hover too close. Some step all the way back. This dad found the perfect middle.

Instructor and three divers in shallow water practicing skills — Real training. Real progress. Water may be cold but spirits stay warm.

Present. Proud. Never interfering.
He let the kids succeed on their own terms.

That kind of support is a gift. You could see how proud he was, but he let them take every step themselves.
Because of that, they walked out of the water as real divers instead of passengers.

Why search for dive buddies when you can raise them.

Weather That Felt Like a Gift

This was DEMA weekend, so the quarry was nearly empty. No crowds. No waiting. No noise.
Just calm blue water and fall colors reflecting off the surface.

The sun warmed everything. The air crept into the seventies. Zero wind.
It felt like late September instead of mid November.

The very next week the temperatures crashed.
We threaded the needle with perfect timing.
This was the real last weekend of the season, and the lake welcomed us in.

Underwater Adventures

With the kids doing so well, I took them on some classic Lake Phoenix tours.

The underwater helicopter was an instant favorite. Something about swimming up to a downed aircraft
flips a switch in every diver’s imagination.

Bowling ball basketball was right behind it. If you have never watched a kid try to dribble something that weighs more than they do,
underwater, you are missing some top tier joy.

Three divers swimming calmly across the surface of Lake Phoenix — Out to the training site. Lake like glass. Zero crowds. November magic.

We saw a lot of the lake.
We laughed underwater.
We learned underwater.
We found that steady underwater rhythm that feels like meditation with bubbles.

Frank’s Solo Reset

Night sky filled with stars above the forest — A sky full of stars. A quiet lake. A perfect end to the day.

Camping stove and food setup under a tall lantern at night — Dinner for one. Peace for miles. Best way to end a dive day.

Quiet illuminated dock at night reflecting warm lights on still water — When the lake goes quiet… that is when you feel the magic of the day settle in.

Logbook, DWF mug, and gear on a table at night — Paperwork, coffee, and the satisfaction of a job well done.

After the dives, I set up camp for the night.
Lantern light. Quiet woods. Stars overhead.
Hot food on a small stove. A logbook waiting for notes. A DWF mug standing guard.
Everything still and relaxing.

That was the first night in months that I slept deeply.
Warm tent. Soft pillow. Cold air outside.
Exactly what the body needed after a long season.

Silence like that is good for the soul.

Two New Divers Join the Tribe

The next morning the kids suited up again.
Focused. Calm. Ready.
No dragging feet.
They stepped into cold water with the kind of determination I usually see in adults.

They handled every requirement with confidence.
They earned their fins the hard way, which is the best way.

Kids like this are the future of diving.
And I am proud of them.

Welcome to the Tribe, Divers

You stepped into a world most people never get to see.
You braved the cold.
You stayed calm.
You found joy beneath the surface.
You learned how to breathe where humans are not supposed to breathe.
You earned something real.

To anyone reading this wishing they had been there.
You should have been.
But spring is coming.
And the lake will be waiting.