Lincoln Mason is a former funeral home owner and administrator from Humboldt, Iowa, with decades of experience in business leadership, client service, and operational management. As the fourth-generation leader of Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home, he oversaw both technical and administrative responsibilities while guiding families through difficult moments with professionalism and care. Lincoln Mason studied mortuary science at Xavier University and gained hands-on experience through internships and years of mentorship under his father before assuming full leadership of the family business in 2000. His commitment to excellence earned him the Iowa Funeral Directors Award of Excellence and multiple terms as president of the local Rotary Club. Outside of his professional career, Lincoln Mason pursues a range of interests that emphasize precision and discipline, including aviation and scuba diving. Holding an advanced scuba certification, he brings a firsthand understanding of the training, preparation, and safety considerations involved in progressing beyond entry-level diving.
Becoming an Advanced Scuba Diver
Scuba diving is а water activity that lets divers explore the underwater world. Divers, however, need specialized gear, such as compressed air tanks, to supply air below the surface. This environment carries risks – including marine life – that can cause injuries, so safety is key. Divers need training to use gear, read currents, and avoid harm from marine life. Advanced scuba diving certifications show this mastery.
A person becomes an advanced scuba diver after completing open-water training and developing the skills, confidence, and experience to handle more demanding underwater conditions. Usually, this designation is tied to a person who has earned various formal credentials, such as PADI Advanced Open Water Diver, SDI Advanced Diver, or NAUI Advanced Open Water certifications.
PADI, short for Professional Association of Diving Instructors, is the world’s largest group that trains recreational divers. The Advanced Open Water course requires five adventure dives. Two dives are mandatory: а deep dive to 100 feet teaches management of depth-related challenges such as nitrogen narcosis, while an underwater navigation dive covers natural navigation techniques, compass use, and kick cycles. The three remaining dives offer elective options; divers select specialized skills that match their interests. They may choose fish identification, underwater photography, or night diving. Each Adventure Dive also counts toward а full PADI Specialty Diver course, which helps divers gain focused skills in specific areas.
Scuba Diving International (SDI) offers а program that helps divers progress past basic skills. The program centers on logging dives and trying different specialties. Its flexible structure lets divers pick areas that match their interests. The path requires four SDI specialty courses, such as Deep Diving, Navigation, Night Diving, or Wreck Diving. It also requires 25 logged dives to demonstrate steady performance in varied conditions. After meeting these requirements, a diver earns the SDI Advanced Scuba Diver certification. SDI presents this credential as proof that a graduate can manage harder environments, such as deeper sites or locations with reduced visibility.
NAUI, the National Association of Underwater Instructors, offers a similar advanced course. Entry requires а minimum age of 15 and a NAUI Open Water Scuba Diver certification or an equivalent credential from another recognized agency. A junior version exists for ages 10-14, under specific rules. The course serves certified divers who want wider experience across open-water activities. It includes six mandatory dives. Three are set: night or low-visibility diving, deep diving, and navigation. Students choose the remaining dives to build experience in different settings. Graduates acquire the ability to conduct open-water diving activities without direct supervision.
Advanced training creates several paths for divers who want to grow. Divers may progress to а rescue diver training course which emphasizes safety, problem prevention, and assisting others. These credentials open paths to divemaster or instructor certifications and allow divers to move into leadership roles where they supervise, guide, and teach others. It also provides access to deeper sites that reach 100 feet, broadening travel and exploration options. Moreover, advanced skills connect divers with peers, fostering networking and participation in exclusive expeditions and underwater research projects.
Besides opportunities, advanced scuba diving skills reduce the major risks encountered at greater depths. As divers descend to deep levels, pressure rises. High levels can cause barotrauma in the lungs or ears when а diver moves too fast or fails to equalize. Deep-dive training helps them manage the physiological effects of depth. These effects include nitrogen narcosis, which compromises judgment and coordination, and decompression illness, which develops when divers surface too rapidly and gas bubbles form in the bloodstream. Air density also increases at depth, causing divers to consume their supply faster. Lack of training can result in unexpected air depletion. Advanced divers master buoyancy control and energy-saving techniques like efficient finning – the kicking motion that propels divers through water. These capabilities improve air consumption and support longer, safer time underwater.
About Lincoln Mason
Lincoln Mason is a former funeral home owner and administrator who led Mason-Lindhart Funeral Home in Humboldt, Iowa, for nearly two decades. A graduate of Xavier University’s mortuary science program, he managed both operational and client-facing responsibilities while maintaining a strong tradition of service. Recognized with the Iowa Funeral Directors Award of Excellence, Mr. Mason has also served as president of his local Rotary Club. In addition to being a licensed pilot, he is an experienced scuba diver and holds an advanced scuba certification.
