As someone who lives her life counting the days between dives, it may seem unlikely that I had first dive jitters, but remember: nerves are normal when you’re a new diver. As badly as I wanted to explore the underwater world, there were not enough pool sessions to prepare me for the way I felt when I jumped into the green waters of the Gulf of Mexico off the Florida Panhandle for my first checkout dive. The visibility wasn’t great and the two people in front of me were too far down the anchor line for me to see. I couldn’t see the bottom, anything around me, or in the distance. I was engulfed in a thick, green blanket. My breathing grew rapid as I clenched the rope as if my life depended on it. I tried to control my breathing and remember the things I learned in class, telling myself that this was no different than the pool.
I turned and looked up at my buddy and I could see other people pulling themselves down the anchor line towards me. “See?” I told myself, “Piece of cake.” I continued to put one hand in front of the other, breathing deeply, pulling myself downward, refusing to give up. It seemed to take forever to reach the sandy bottom and I felt my breathing instantly slow. I performed all of my skills with ease, including clearing my mask and regulator. While the instructor worked with other students I took great joy in looking in the sand for shells and sand dollars and seeing lots of shiny fish swim by. I even enjoyed the company of a watchful barracuda that seemed to enjoy hanging out on the edge of our little circle, watching us. When I got back on the boat I was so proud of myself for soldiering through my early panic and giving myself the chance to see this magical world. To other new divers whose nerves may threaten to get the best of them: Breathe deep and stay focused on your teachings. I promise it’ll be worth it.
Have any of your own first-dive stories to share? We’d love to hear about them!
By guest author Bridgette L. Broussard Miller
