scuba dive

I had my second and third confined dive yesterday! Woohooo! What I learned… putting the mask on underwater, towing a dive buddy, dealing with cramps, breathing through a free-flowing regulator, swimming using your snorkel and fins. There was a time when I panicked when I removed my mask underwater because I was wearing contacts and have to close my eyes while doing the skill but I did it on the second try.

I pride myself for being calm under pressure but I think in reality I panic when I encounter things I am unfamiliar with. Doing this makes me feel in control and I think it would even help me to be calm and collected when faced with uncontrollable things in life - in and out of the water.

I had my first classroom and confined water dive today! Woohooo!! :)

First, I had to answer a questionaire indicating my medical history blah blah and then I watched a video indicating all the stuff I will be doing in the pool. I was really interested and I found out quite a few things that I did not even know before (Yup! Sometimes I don’t listen to science class)

Then, it’s off to the pool! Jonje gave me a wetsuit to wear, I was checking out the tag and it said a medium. Harhar, first time I wore a medium! After that I had to go to the side of the pool and learn how to assemble my dive equipment. Then we went to the shallow end of the pool and I practiced breathing using the regulator and stuff. When we were ready to descend, I was supposed to kneel on the bottom and the pool and voila! What I was expecting happened! I started to ascend! Hahaha. Damn buoyancy! Jonje had to weigh me down with a 15-lb weights! Nyahaaha.

Anyways, after I was settled in the water I practiced more stuff like learning to clearing your regulator, finding your regulator, clearing your mask, stuff like that. It was really fun! Can’t wait for my next lesson on Friday night!

I will be taking my first class at ScubaWorld Makati tomorrow with my dive instructor Jonje. I was hesitant at first but he was such a great guy and he told me that if I did not take to the sport then I could just pay for my lesson that day. I also “bullied” my superfriends to accompany me for my checkout dive in Anilao. So, hurrah!!! :) Will let you know what happens tomorrow.

Oh yeah, if you are interested my PADI Open Water Lessons costs PhP12500 inclusive of everything except the accomodation/resort for the checkout dive. Pretty cheap compared to everything I asked for, and believe me, I asked a LOT of dive instructors out here. :)