The First Descent

TThe first descent one takes when learning to SCUBA dive is unlike any other experience you have in life. You weightlessly sink to the bottom of the ocean. There are just a few minutes for you to gather your thoughts before you reach the bottom of what seemed to have been a never-ending drop. When you finally lay your eyes on the vibrant coral a calmness quickly replaces the adrenaline. Fish swim closer to take a curious look at what you are. Suddenly you begin to realize this is not your home. You understand that you are no longer at the top of the food chain; you are just a guest in someone else's home.

It occurred to me, for the first time in my life, I didn't care about the small things like how my body looked in a tight wet suit or if my hair was tangled in my mask. I was entirely me with people just like me and nothing else mattered in that moment. When I dive, every single worry is left on dry land; everything slows down, the fins, my heartbeat, and I get to float with the gentle push and pull of the ocean's current. All I can hear is the static coming from the fish that live on the reef beneath me. As much as I admired the beauty of the sea, I can't help but reveal that my first-time diving was like living out my childhood dream of becoming a mermaid. I like to call myself a certified mermaid today.

There are two important rules every diver must know one being that you always have to look cool when you dive and the second is to always dive with a buddy. I will always remember Ann as she was my first dive buddy. On my first dive I was naturally hesitant, who wouldn’t be? However, having a buddy walking through it with you eases the stress. I found that you hold on closer to someone when you're the only two things in the entire ocean that are from the same world as you. To a non-diver, it may seem strange, but when all you have is a small slate to write on and a couple of hand signals, it's comforting to know that your dive buddy has your back and you have theirs. The bond that two strangers create over diving is built off of pure trust, mutual respect, and total gratitude.

After ascending from my first dive I was in complete shock and was absolutely amazed by the world I had just left. On the boat ride home, I reflected not only on the ocean, but at the journey I walked through to get my certification. I advanced through some of the most intimidating and challenging practices one could face. Taking your mask off with no air at 60 feet is not exactly a walk in the park. The road to a SCUBA certification makes you overcome physical and mental hurdles, even the toughest individuals walk out with lessons learned. While getting certified is not too physically demanding for most, I have found that it is more of a mental barrier than anything else. You have to find the confidence within yourself, and you have to trust that you have what it takes to be a diver.

Scuba diving is the most rewarding sport I have done. Deciding to breathe underwater is intimidating, but once I pushed through the initial hesitation, I broke the physical limits of my human existence on dry land. I have gained courage, confidence, and trust. I have begun a parallel life underwater that is as equally exciting as the one I live above the surface. I believe I have the ocean to thank for a great deal of what I have become today.

I feel sorry for all the ocean lovers who have never entered this world before. I used to be one of them, but not anymore.

I am now a member of a very special community.

I am a PADI scuba diver.