On May 9th I had my first scuba class. Jon and I joined a club here that is part of the British Sub Aquatic Club (BSAC). They do certification, hold weekly meetings and organize dive trips. Jon took a class in college, so he was already certified. He has been trying to convince me to become certified as long as I have known him—but it just didn’t seem worth it in Utah. Now that we live surrounded by water I have run out of excuses.
So far it has been fun—but a challenge for me. I am really not a water person. I am not a great swimmer and I hate getting water in my nose, eyes and mouth (salt water.) I figure that every few years you should do something that really stretches you and makes you step outside your comfort zone.
The classes were a challenge for me at first—but it got better every time. Scuba diving is good for managing stress and learning to handle anxiety because you have to focus completely on the present. You can block out work, to do lists, and everything else. The biggest adjustment for my body has been figuring out that I can breathe underwater. I have to remind myself to breathe in and that my lungs won’t fill with water.
The classes started in the pool and then moved to the ocean. The class I took is the first certification level—Ocean Diver. You learn safety, what to do in an emergency, how to rescue someone else, how to clear your mask underwater, how to set up and take care of all the equipment, and basic diving skills. After I complete all the requirements, I will only be able to dive to 20 meters—approximately 65 feet.
So far it has been fun—but a challenge for me. I am really not a water person. I am not a great swimmer and I hate getting water in my nose, eyes and mouth (salt water.) I figure that every few years you should do something that really stretches you and makes you step outside your comfort zone.
The classes were a challenge for me at first—but it got better every time. Scuba diving is good for managing stress and learning to handle anxiety because you have to focus completely on the present. You can block out work, to do lists, and everything else. The biggest adjustment for my body has been figuring out that I can breathe underwater. I have to remind myself to breathe in and that my lungs won’t fill with water.The classes started in the pool and then moved to the ocean. The class I took is the first certification level—Ocean Diver. You learn safety, what to do in an emergency, how to rescue someone else, how to clear your mask underwater, how to set up and take care of all the equipment, and basic diving skills. After I complete all the requirements, I will only be able to dive to 20 meters—approximately 65 feet.
P.S. This picture is not of me. It is just one of the photos of a pool session from the BSAC website.
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