Kathryn M. Mendes
Biography
Divermaiden
Kathy in front of a waterfall in Papua New Guinea.
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Biography
Growing up on the San Mateo Coastside (California) Kathy spent most of her time riding, drawing and reading about horses. Kathy still has Starlight, a beautiful purebred Arabian mare that she rides occasionally and feeds carrots to often. Kathy learned from her mother who is a talented artist, and drew and painted pictures for many years. She continues her interest in art, but now in the form of photography.
After growing up, getting married and having two sons Kathy became interested in computers. This came after her father gave her an IBM PC (an old one with no hard drive, no mouse and a black & white TV for a monitor) for the kids to learn to use and play games on. The computer inspired Kathy to take several classes at College of San Mateo to learn how to use it. Her interest caught, she continued taking Computer Science and Business classes in the evenings after work for several years. Eventually the classes paid off and she began to work in a technical position, providing support for software and electronic banking products.
Kathy is currently working as a medical transcriptionist in a pathology lab in Los Gatos and at a hospital in Santa Cruz. Someday she hopes to work at home giving her the freedom to go diving, riding, or to do more photography (above and below the surface).
Other interests that Kathy has include SCUBA diving and underwater photography. Certified in 1991, SCUBA has been a part of her life since. It is truly another world, visit Kathy's Underwater World to see some of the wonders of being underwater. An amateur photographer, she belongs to the Northern California Underwater Photographic Society where she donated her time and skills as the webmaster for three years. NCUPS is an educational club with members from all skill levels where anyone with an interest can join and learn about underwater photography. Kathy is also a member of the Monterey Peninsula Underwater Photographic Society and Wildlife Photographers of Silicon Valley. She is also a member of Wetpixel and Digital Diver Network, websites for digital underwater photographers. A member of the Central California Council of Diving she attends meetings regularly and reports on another interest, the ocean environment.
In 1999 Kathy became involved with another large group of divers, kayakers and lovers of the ocean to recommend that the California Department of Fish & Game protect a small area off the Monterey coast from kelp cutting. This effort was successful. From that effort another group has been formed to support the creation of the Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Reserve in that area. Please visit the Friends of the Edward F. Ricketts State Marine Reserve website and help us to protect the ocean environment.
