Hey all! So with this week being so jam-packed with mid-term assignments, and exams, I unfortunately do not have the time to cross something off my list. With that being said, I chose to write about the past experience that has topped my list thus far. #21 Scuba Diving! Sure whitewater rafting and bungee jumping are up there, but scuba diving had a different effect on me.
After a couple drinks at the bar the second night in Jamaica, I met a guy who was thinking about scuba diving in a couple days and insisted that I join him. We got chatting about it for pretty much the remainder of the night, and I came to the conclusion that this would be the time to do it. After all, I had this on my bucket list. It had to be done!
The next day I inquired about qualifications and/or tests I would have to complete in order to scuba dive in Jamaica to get the wheels in motion. I received some brochures and chatted up one of the sales ladies that was walking along the beach that morning.
I believe it was a Monday that I decided to make my first trip out scuba diving (almost a year ago today!). The morning was a beautiful 30 degrees Celsius, and my excitement was through the roof! The day started off with an instructional video that we had to watch for safety reasons. This lasted about 40 minutes or so in a tiny room in the back of the dive shop.
Then off to the pool for more safety tips, and of course we had to learn how to use all of our equipment and practice.
I remember the first few breaths being very dry and a little weird, and then it hit me. I WAS BREATHING UNDER WATER!
At this point we were ready to head out to the open water! I remember feeling so excited and nervous at the same time. We arrived at our dive spot and I started to get my gear on.
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| Our instructor was amazing! |
I was the first person to make the jump into the water. As I made the leap, I took a big breath before hitting the water and I sounded like Darth Vader. Funny because I forgot I could just breathe normally since I was using a regulator.
At this point I was the first one in the water, and at the front of the boat. There was a rope connected from the boat to the bottom of the sea. From what I recall, it was not an anchor, but a permanent rope connected to the bottom to prevent any further damage to the reefs. I remember holding on to the rope as instructed, when all of a sudden panic set in. I’M BAIT! All I was thinking at this point was some great white shark was going to violently grab me thrashing back and forth.
Thankfully at this point there were two of us, and I started to calm down thinking of how my odds were now cut in half. PHEW!
By now, it was time to descend to the bottom, but I was still feeling a little anxiety. The moment I put my head in the water and started looking around my heart nearly stopped. It was so mesmerizing. I felt like I was caught up in the movie, “Finding Nemo”. Before I knew it I was the first to the bottom and couldn’t wait to swim around. Although it only felt like a 5-minute dive I believe we were in the water for about 30 minutes and descended to 60ft. We swam through coral openings and swam with plenty of fish including a stingray! It was the most unbelievable experience I have had to date. It’s as if you are apart of the sea life. Fish just swim along side you and are not scared of you at all. I’m forever hooked! Hopefully next time I can see a shark or two!
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