Randy Cordova
The Arizona Republic
Jul. 25, 2002 12:00 PM

When she lived in New York City, Bobbie Nicosia knew an international banker. His life was filled with meetings and appointments.

Every day before work, he would dive to the bottom of his indoor swimming pool in full scuba apparatus. He would float beneath the water and simply breathe.

That's how relaxing scuba is.

"It's the greatest feeling in the world," says Nicosia, who owns Aqua Blue Sports in Phoenix, believed to be the oldest scuba shop in the Valley. "Nothing can compare."

Aqua Blue has been at the same Indian School Road location since 1955. Nicosia bought the place in 1994 after working there 14 years.

She dived into the world of scuba early on. At age 11, she created a list of things she wanted to learn to do. Scuba diving was near the top.

A few years later, she accomplished her goal - "I jumped in with both fins," she says.

She's not alone. About $363 million was spent in 1999 on scuba equipment, up 5 percent from 1998, according to the most recent figures available from the National Sporting Goods Association.

Although the Valley has its share of scuba shops, most people probably don't think of Arizona as a hotbed for diving. Or, as Nicosia puts it: "Hey, guys, we're landlocked!"

But there are alternatives to the Pacific, including Lake Pleasant and Lake Powell.

"Lake Powell is so beautiful underwater," she says. "It's so serene, but there's a lot to see.

"The beautiful vistas that you have above water, you'll see the same thing underwater. There's not a lot of life, but there are beautiful sandstone sculptures."

Aqua Blue has scuba lessons for all ages. Personalized instruction is offered, as are classes in Spanish.

After the first week, students hit the water. But be aware: You start in a swimming pool. It's all baby steps.

Nicosia warns that everyone isn't ready for the lake at the same time. Learning time depends on age, determination, skill level and other factors.

"I've had people ready to go right away, and I've had a lady who had to take the class three times," Nicosia says.

Students can retake classes for free until they're ready to dive.

But once you're ready to submerge, Nicosia promises a feeling like no other.

"I don't think I've ever seen someone come up from a dive without a smile on their face," she says.

their face," she says.