Dive Into Your Imagination

I just breathed underwater for the first time!

J. and I had our first pool session for our SCUBA diving classes and certification. Here, we practiced lessons from the textbook in real life. It is one thing to read about an experience - but quite another thing to actually DO it!

But before we got in the water, first thing's first. We had to become comfortable with our equipment out of the water. My first thought was: "What in the world do all these hoses do?" and the next was, "This is so heavy!" SCUBA diving comes with lots of gear, and Annie told us how important it is to keep everything organized and well-maintained. Take care of your equipment, and it will take care of you! You have a tank, a regulator (that you breathe through), an alternate air source (for emergencies), a BCD that straps onto you and allows you to control your buoyancy (where you are in the water), releases, fins, a mask, and a snorkel! There are so many things to keep track of, but we also need to understand their importance (why do we need this hose here?). Once Annie showed us everything, we practiced putting our gear together, step by step. We practiced over and over again, until it started to get easier. Then… splash!

After we got into the water, we had to get used to our bodies. It was hard to keep balance – even in the shallow end! But in no time, our heads were below the surface, eyes wide, looking to Annie for instructions. Because you can't talk to each other in the pool, we had to memorize a brief list of SCUBA sign language in order to communicate. Annie demonstrated how to switch from our snorkels to our regulators and breathe. Then it was our turn. And what an experience! First one breath. Inhale through the mouth. Exhale. Then another. I was surrounded by water, and yet breathing air! I felt like a space astronaut. The air felt dry in the back of my throat, but it worked! I was breathing!

Then it was time to explore. The bottom of a pool isn't quite as exciting as a coral reef, but we didn't focus much on our surroundings. I felt like I had to practically relearn how to swim! I felt so bulky in the water with so much gear on. What makes it even more difficult, is that you don't actually see the hoses, tanks, handles, and releases that are strapped onto your body. I could immediately see why practice in the pool is so important!

My favorite part of my first experience breathing underwater was when Annie, J. and I swam to the very bottom of the deep end, layed on our backs, and looked up at the surface. This was truly amazing, because this was a view of a pool that I had never seen before. The light shined and filtered through the water. Annie blew "O's" up to the surface, and J. and I followed with streams of air bubbles. It was relaxing and peaceful down at the bottom of that pool - there was no sound other than my own breathing. I started imagining all the amazing and unique views SCUBA diving will allow me to experience in my future.
Now that I can breathe underwater, there is no looking back!