Richard Hormigo

CERTIFICATION: PADI Instructor for all certifications and the most popular specialties. Ice, Self-Reliant, Technical diver OC and CCR, Sidemount, and Trimix CCR 100m (330ft). IANTD Full Cave.
# OF DIVES: Never enough.... at number 42 I decided to become a full cave diver.
AT PAN AQUA DIVING: I teach most PADI certifications and several specialties.
FIRST BREATH ON SCUBA: In my Junior year at school I had the chance to take scuba as an elective. I jumped to it with no doubts, but thanks to our SEAL-like instructor it didn't look as cool as I thought at first ;-), but then that first breath changed me forever. Until, many years later, I took my first breath on a rebreather unit (CCR)... with no bubbles the water became the outer space!
BEST DIVE EVER: Cave Vallgornera in Mallorca, Spain. It took months of preparation and permits. The next hurdle was getting into the flood area, which required lowering our gear down a dry well with ropes. The cave itself is a paradise of fragile speleothems, dozens of different beautiful formations that took thousands of years to create.
FAVORITE CRITTER: Nudibranchs. There are nearly 3,000 species, each with its own beauty and habitat. I am also amazed with some cave speleothems such as pool spars, rimstone dams, or quartz based formations.
WHEN I AM NOT DIVING: Since my tween years I have loved electronics, which I still create as part of my work as a Neuroscience Engineer. Or just for fun if something comes to mind, even scuba toys!