A splash, cloud of bubbles race past………. disoriented at first then blue water, white sand, and silence. You inhale through a foreign object and exhale looking up to see large half dome bubbles traveling towards the surface and the boat you just left. First breath underwater, something unnatural for humans but extremely addictive and simply unforgettable.
The underwater world has captivated the human spirit since man first crawled out of the water. Whether it be exploring a Roman archeological site in the Mediterranean, searching the interior of a shipwreck in the Caribbean for coins, or gliding over the diverse ecosystems of South East Asia, scuba diving has something for everyone. But where do you start? For many, snorkeling as a side adventure on a tropical vacation has been the gateway drug that has led to countless smiles and underwater Zen.
Once one decides to take the giant leap of faith into the abyss the first step is simply how and where to go? If you want to see if scuba is your jam the best course of action would simply dive right in. While on vacation in Bermuda, Bahamas, or the Florida Keys one needs only to seek a credited and licensed dive shop to sign up for a Discover Scuba Adventure, or a one day class to see if diving is for you. After you have signed up your capable and certified instructor will direct you to show up tomorrow at the dive shop in the morning and be ready for an amazing experience.
So what gear does one need? Yes you could go and buy everything you need and several items you don’t, but instead take it slow. The dive shop will include the essentials for your first breath underwater, BCD (Buoyancy, Compensator, Device), regulator (thing you breathe with), weights (to counter the beers or brownies), and a tank of air of course. They typically will also include fins and a window into the underwater world also called a mask. But my recommendations are to keep the first dive simple and maybe purchase a snorkel, fins, and above all the most important piece of equipment, a good mask that fits your face like the tentacles of an octopus. Dive masks are made out of tempered glass and quality soft silicone that over time will form to its master’s face. A mask can easily make or break your experience in the ocean, if you can’t see well you miss the sea. Make sure you purchase your mask from a quality dive shop and not a Coconut Pete beach hut peddling inferior gear. I have seen too many people walk away from life altering experiences in the underwater realm due to equipment.
The Dive: What to expect…….the next day you show up ready to see tropical fish, stingrays, lobsters, and turtles but instead of your instructor loading you onto the boat with the rest of the certified divers headed to the coral reefs she guides you to the pool for a couple of hours. Your instructor wants to make sure you are familiar with the scuba gear, and practice a few skills to build your confidence. Including experiencing neutral buoyancy in the water column, somewhere between the surface and the bottom. Weightless, floating motionless, a calm comes over the diver, an almost surreal out of body experience of one being with the gear and the environment. Machine and nature coming together as one…………..you’re ready.
In the afternoon you load onto the dive boat with the rest of the certified divers, individuals who have completed the Open Water Certification class either at home or on vacation. The journey out to the reefs can be a thrilling ride calm as a lake or 6 ft. swells so check the forecast before venturing out (most operations will limit first time divers to ideal conditions. Look for pods of dolphins, flying fish, turtles, and even a whale tale. Instructors want nothing more than to share their passion for the ocean and the creatures who call it home with new divers. As an instructor I loved being the person to show the underwater realm to people for the first time. To see their eyes grow wide at the sight of a moray eel, giggle crabs fighting over an empty shell, look simply in wonder as they watch an octopus change shape, color, and size as it hunts its next meal.
After the boat ties up onto a mooring ball directly over the reef the captain gives his briefing and divers plunge into the water following their divemaster guides on an epic tour. Your instructor helps you into your gear, she smiles at you and tells you its time. Although you’re nervous, teeming with anticipation, maybe even a bit seasick you pull the mask onto your face and place the regular into your mouth. Shuffling over to the edge of the boat in your fins and grabbing onto the rail to steady yourself. Pausing for just a moment to think about the amazing world we are so grateful to be a part of, ecosystems turning in time above and below the water. You realize we all have a part to play in this world and yet it doesn’t belong to us, only stewards in body, mind, and soul. Then you jump, first breath………..and you will never be the same.
Notes from the author: Scuba Diving has been a sanctuary into inner peace, my church if you will. Diving has created a powerful bond in my heart for nature. A passionate connection to the underwater world and all that calls it home. Resulting in a way of life that has extended into my family and friends. The tranquility, quiescence, and peace diving has provided has been unparalleled to none.
Tim Giltzow has been a certified diver for 36 years and taught diving lessons in the Florida Keys.
One Response
Great article Tim!