Wearing supertight wetsuit that chokes your lungs - FINE.
Carrying 20kg of scuba equipment including air tank, BCD, fins, mask, and weigh belt – BEARABLE.
Dive more than 5m to the seabed and fill your face mask with water; forcing you to shut your eyes and leave your world in darkness at the bottom of the deep blue sea – I GIVE UP.
My first diving experience made me realize one thing – I have a PHOBIA of the sea. I always knew I was scared of swimming in the ocean alone, but this is real I’m-ready-to-crap-in-the-water phobia.
I initially had a leaking mask, and my first descent was not a good experience. Once that was sorted, I thought my eyes and nose would be dry for the rest of the day, but NO. We had to do skills like flooding mask and clear, removing mask and clear, and swimming without mask; all in total PITCH BLACK darkness cause my eyes are shut. I was blessed with a very patient dive instructor, but I still couldn’t make do. By the end of the day, I was stressed, frustrated and worn out, and it was getting to me at the other skills not involving the mask.
And as long as I couldn’t handle the mask, I would never get my license, no matter how great I could be at the other skills. If there was ever a time for a lowest point in my life, this had to be it. For one thing, it felt bad not being able to do such a simple task, and another; everyone else was able to do it and was worry-free and enjoying their dives. It seemed I was the only one about to blow the almost 1000 bucks and go home empty handed. But then, I had already promised the coach one last try with him tomorrow. After that I would quit.
Carrying 20kg of scuba equipment including air tank, BCD, fins, mask, and weigh belt – BEARABLE.
Dive more than 5m to the seabed and fill your face mask with water; forcing you to shut your eyes and leave your world in darkness at the bottom of the deep blue sea – I GIVE UP.
My first diving experience made me realize one thing – I have a PHOBIA of the sea. I always knew I was scared of swimming in the ocean alone, but this is real I’m-ready-to-crap-in-the-water phobia.
I initially had a leaking mask, and my first descent was not a good experience. Once that was sorted, I thought my eyes and nose would be dry for the rest of the day, but NO. We had to do skills like flooding mask and clear, removing mask and clear, and swimming without mask; all in total PITCH BLACK darkness cause my eyes are shut. I was blessed with a very patient dive instructor, but I still couldn’t make do. By the end of the day, I was stressed, frustrated and worn out, and it was getting to me at the other skills not involving the mask.
And as long as I couldn’t handle the mask, I would never get my license, no matter how great I could be at the other skills. If there was ever a time for a lowest point in my life, this had to be it. For one thing, it felt bad not being able to do such a simple task, and another; everyone else was able to do it and was worry-free and enjoying their dives. It seemed I was the only one about to blow the almost 1000 bucks and go home empty handed. But then, I had already promised the coach one last try with him tomorrow. After that I would quit.
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