It was my sixth dive in a little bit over every week, and I used to be about to hit the water with 4 Seasons Kuda Huraa within the Maldives. I tightened the straps of my Buoyancy Management Machine (BCD), went by a closing buddy verify with my PADI Divemaster, and with out a care on this planet, descended into the turquoise waters of the Indian Ocean. It was solely later that I noticed I used to be so fixated on a want to see the mantas simply off the coast of Malé, that I hadn’t felt any of my regular pre-dive nerves.
A number of months previous to that magical dive, I accomplished the PADI Open Water Diver course. It was simply among the finest issues I’ve ever carried out for myself. The default is to evaluate studying methods to scuba dive it to gaining superpowers – however I dare you to seek out one other time period for it. After 72 hours of intense pool work and open water dives off the coast of the Channel Islands, California, I felt prepared to hitch the Avengers.
One-off dive experiences are implausible, and I shortly collected my fair proportion of favorites. (The Kona, Hawaii manta night time dives are actually the stuff of desires.) However solely sometimes getting within the water didn’t broaden my ability set the way in which I had hoped. Whereas diving has by no means felt troublesome or scary, I used to be nonetheless caught within the section the place issues didn’t really feel computerized. Worse but, my honors-student, A+ mentality adopted me into diving, which means that as an alternative of giving myself grace for studying one thing new as grownup, I used to be compulsively reviewing my PADI movies and manuals, fearful what somebody would possibly assume if I didn’t arrange my gear proper on the primary strive. (Spoiler: Divemasters are there to assist on guided dives, in case you want it.)
So, after I was invited on a multi-resort journey by the Maldives, I jumped on the alternative. Not solely was I excited in regards to the clear water and aquarium-like sea life, the size of the journey meant I may spend loads of time underwater. Six dives and one week later, not solely did I see the sort of sea life that also lives rent-free in my head, I used to be shocked at how a lot my abilities as a diver had progressed just by displaying up every single day.
It is sensible that common observe would result in optimistic outcomes – I used to be increasing my consolation zone with out even realizing it. Right here are some things I realized over my week of intense diving.
Diving With Many Completely different Divemasters Teaches Flexibility
Each divemaster’s aim is to maintain their divers secure. And each divemaster works their means down the identical pre-dive guidelines. However seeing how every individual dealt with these necessities helped me understand that diving isn’t a one-size-fits all exercise. After I wanted assist, like after I struggled to hold my BCD and tank up a ladder after a dive, I felt snug asking for help, realizing that there have been a number of methods to deal with the problem.
Diving in Completely different Environments Teaches Adaptability
Whereas diving within the Maldives is overwhelmingly beautiful, it’s not a uniform expertise. One website may have a major present, whereas the subsequent one may very well be completely nonetheless. Morning dives may need crystal-clear visibility, whereas afternoon storms have the potential to make the waters murkier. Making changes on a dive-by-dive foundation as an alternative of a day-by-day foundation educated my mind to shortly acknowledge variables that might have an effect on my dive expertise.
Diving Frequently Trains Muscle Reminiscence
Stretching out a cramp? Clearing my masks? Finding my dump valve? Creating muscle reminiscence takes time. After attempting abilities that I had solely practiced in my Open Water Diver course throughout a number of dives, they instantly felt much less like high-pressure hypotheticals, and extra like tiny changes that improved the general high quality of my time underwater.
The most effective components about being a beginner is the power to shamelessly ask questions. Not solely did a number of dives assist me faucet into my inside curious little one (“What was that fish?” “Why did I battle with buoyancy in the course of the security cease?” “What’s the fashion to ensure that my hair doesn’t get tangled in my tank?”), with the ability to instantly implement divemaster recommendation meant that the optimistic outcomes have been eternally lodged in my mind.
Whenever you’re new to scuba, it may possibly appear to be a tall order to e-book a visit with a number of dives. However throwing your self into the method, and gaining common intense observe will repay in calmer, extra pleasing dives. Whereas I’m nonetheless studying (and might’t wait to deal with the Superior Open Water Diver course), I’m now ready to take a look at the expertise much less like a take a look at the place I’m decided to get the perfect grade, and extra like a journey. I can’t wait to leap in once more.
This weblog was written by Laura Studarus, a Los Angeles-based journey author with bylines at Quick Firm, BBC Journey, and Thrillist.
