ARLINGTON - During the week, Scott Jones' world is much like anyone else's. He goes to work, pays bills, runs errands.

But on weekends, he's in another world -- underwater.

"Every time down it's a new adventure," said Jones, president of the Diving Rebels, an Arlington-based club founded in 1958.

The Diving Rebels is the oldest scuba diving club in Texas and has 62 members, according to its Web site. Skill levels range from beginners to master divers. Equipment for a beginning diver can cost from a few hundred dollars to several thousand dollars. Certification costs about $200. Equipment, including air tanks, can often be rented.

"People get certified [as divers] and then they don't go because they can't find someone to go with," club treasurer Keith Weber said. "Diving Rebels provides that opportunity -- and a group of friends as well."

Diving Rebels outings include an annual river cleanup in San Marcos in January, visiting lakes all over Texas and neighboring states, and the annual underwater Pumpkin Carving Contest at Lake Murray in conjunction with Halloween.

Jones said he participated in the contest this year for the first time and now wonders why he waited so long.

"I was a little skeptical, but I tell you what, we've got some great artists in the club," Jones said. "I thought I did all right, but some of those pumpkins were a real work of art."

Nineteen members of the Diving Rebels are women, including Jima Watson, who joined 1 1/2 years ago. Now, she's getting her 8- and 11-year-old sons involved.

"It's thought of as a men's activity, but women can do this just as well," Watson said. "The hard part is the equipment's heavy on land but once you're in the water, men have no advantage whatsoever, and everyone's equal.

"I want my sons to enjoy this. That's one of our goals for the summer, to get them in the water more."

Ronnie Jones, Scott's father, is already dreaming of the day when his 15-month-old granddaughter will join him on a dive.

"She's already in the water with her head under learning," Ronnie Jones said.

The Diving Rebels go on at least one dive as a group almost every month. There are a couple of exceptions such as the annual Christmas Party and the annual Chili Cookoff. Their next outing is Saturday and Nov. 23 at Clear Springs Scuba Park in Terrell.

"The most magnificent things are under the water," club Vice President George Bartulevicz said. "It's wonderful when you're right there and fish are swimming all around you."

Diving Rebels

• The group meets the first Wednesday of every month at J. Gilligan's, 400 E. Abram St. in Arlington.

Social hour begins at 6:30 p.m., and the meeting starts at 7:30 p.m.

• Cost: $15 initiation fee, $20 annual dues