Mike pulled out a packet and flipped through each sheet explaining scuba diving gear and safety to us. He spoke of people ascending too quickly and having to be put into decompression chambers to keep them alive.Maria and I squirmed.
We walked over to the scuba shack full of gear and wrestled into our scuba suits. The suits were hot and the gear was heavy. We waded into the water. We then inflated our buoyancy compensator (the pack on our backs) so that we were floating. First we practiced what to do if water got in our mask; pressing on the top of the mask and blowing lightly to get the water out. Mike then took us one-by-one under the water. The water was cloudy from the storm the night before.
We dove down and swam through the grass on the bottom of the quarry as a few large fish swam by. I looked over and gave him the “OK” sign; what Mike told us to signal to him if everything was good. When I began to feel pressure in my ears I looked over to Mike and pointed up. We ascended.
After we all got our first under-water diving experience we floated on our backs over to the deeper water. Mike first took Jason down. Maria and I held onto a buoy to stay afloat. Next Mike took Maria and I down. I pressed the button to deflate and slowly began to sign .The three of us held onto a rope connected from the buoy above the water to the dock below the water.I looked down and it seemed to go down forever. We put one hand over another on the rope and descended slowly down several feet. Maria gave the “up” symbol and we ascended.
Then we attempted the same thing again. What happened when you panic during scuba diving? Unfortunately I found out. I was breathing in and out slowly into my respirator until I got water into my mouth. Panic came over me. What do I do? I couldn’t remember. We were only a few feet below so I pointed up and before seeing if Mike gave me a response I began to swim to the surface. What button was I supposed to push? I felt like I was swimming and getting nowhere. I couldn’t think. Before I knew it Mike had grabbed me and gotten me to the surface. I spit out my respirator and began gasping for air and grabbing for Mike as I bobbed in the water. . He stayed calm and said, “Let me put your respirator in your mouth”. He inflated my buoyancy compensator and pulled me back on your back toward the dock. Scuba diving was over.
Surprisingly as we sat on the bench again at the end to recap our session he said “you all did great”. He said to not let what happen scare me from donning the gear and going under again. I took a picture with Mike. As we posed I said, “Me and my lifesaver.” He smiled. Maybe my fears did come true. But I am proud of myself for trying it out and in the end I was just fine.
WRITERS NOTE: I sat down to write this post a few times the last few days but could not bring myself to do it. Finally today I did. The thought did cross my mind to change the story and leave out the part where I panicked but that would not give a true picture of my experience. It takes a lot of courage for me to push the “publish” button on this post but I guess that’s what this blog is all about.
