FA I R W I N D S P R O F I L E
Connecting with an Undersea World by Kait Burgan photos by Jay Holbrook
MEL VINCENT USED TO DRIVE FROM NANAIMO TO NANOOSE BAY FOR SOME OF THE BEST, MOST ACCESSIBLE DIVING ON VANCOUVER ISLAND. He didn’t think that when it came time to find a new home about eight years ago, that he and his wife, Debra, would settle in Fairwinds. Nanaimo was where Mel thought they’d live. He works there, and desirable lifestyles don’t usually involve a lot of commuting. “We came through the house, and my wife danced through the home, delightedly checking everything out,” he recalls. “I knew I didn’t have a chance at that point. We’re here, and we love it.” It’s a lifestyle change that’s been nothing but positive. Mel uses the gym at Fairwinds Centre. They have dinner at the golf club regularly. Debra plays golf with the ladies, and Mel dives - a lot. “I dove as recently as three days ago, and it’s just been marvellous,” he says. “The winter is actually the best visibility. In the summer, you get plankton, and with plankton, you get reduced visibility. It’s fabulous in winter.” For some people, diving can be claustrophobic, and managing the technical elements can be stressful and even overwhelming. For Mel, after decades of scuba, the experience is comforting. “There are no other sounds, just you in the water with your dive buddies. You’re looking around and exploring and going to areas that nobody else except other divers will see. You see creatures and wildlife and things growing that you would never see above the surface.” Mel loves the camaraderie that comes with diving, going with groups of friends a few times a month. They’re experienced and passionate divers who thrive on exploring underwater worlds together. “If you’re in Fairwinds, overwhelmingly the most popular 14 PASSIONS | WINTER 2021
