MUHLENBERG COUNTY, KY - Many locals may be surprised to know that one of Greenville’s firefighters is also a certified scuba instructor.   For Mike Woodall, this is not only a fun recreational activity; it is also asset to search and rescue efforts in a multi-county area.  iSurf reporters went underwater to get a taste of the action. 

Mike Woodall is a Muhlenberg County native, who lives in Greenville with his wife Delilah.  Woodall has been on the Greenville Fire Department since 1999 and has been diving for close to thirty years.   Recently, Woodall became a dive instructor at The Pennyroyal Scuba Center, Blue Springs Resort, in Hopkinsville, Kentucky. 

The scuba center, formerly a limestone quarry, boasts crystal clear waters in depths of up to 120 feet.  The quarry was transformed in 1994 into a facility that offers not only world class diving, but also a highly trained staff help to ensure a safe and fun adventure for guests.   Underwater, divers will find around 40 attractions to explore, like sunken boats, a motorcycle, a fire truck, a school bus and others.  Divers are sure to swim up close with schools of bluegill and the occasional bass or catfish. 

A wide range of services are available on site, including air fills, custom nitro blending, rental, equipment repair and sales, waterside grill and camping.  During weekends, the resorts may have welcome around one hundred divers from surrounding counties and states.  The full service diving shop offers classes from the Open Water Diver program to Dive Control Specialist program for continuing education. 

Resort owners, Kris and Dennis Tapp, along with Mike Woodall, serve in the Area 2 Dive and Rescue Team.  This non-profit team takes rescue and recovery calls from a nine county area in Western Kentucky.  “That is why I keep all my gear in my truck,”  Woodall told reporters.  The team may be called to help police recover vehicles, weapons, boats or bodies from underwater, and to assist with other issues that may require their expertise. 

When asked why he enjoys diving, Woodall replied, “It’s a stress relief for me after a hard weeks work.  When you go down there, there is nothing else.”  Woodall and many other divers enjoy the underwater world and love to share the knowledge and skills with others. 

If you are interested in an aquatic adventure right here in the Bluegrass, call Pennyroyal Scuba Center at 270-887-2585.  For more information and pricing, you may also visit their website, at www.pennyroyalscuba.com.  

Amy Hourigan
iSurf News