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Wow! I'm a certified Scuba Diver! I am still awestruck that that title applies to me. That may not seem remarkably exciting to some veteran divers but to me, scuba diving was always one of those unattainable, "I wish I could" kind of dreams. I have always felt a kinship with creatures of the sea, but have never been a very brave or adventurous woman and it was something that other people got to achieve. On Sunday, August 8th, it became something I got to achieve and I am thrilled. It was worth waiting for and now I know what I've been missing!
I have to admit that our first ocean dives did not appeal to me. It was cold down there and the visibility was only 8 to 10 feet. All I saw was barren sand, green murky water, and a few nearly microscopic sand dollars. We had gone off La Jolla Shores and I was exhausted from the surface swim and sore from fighting through the surf with all that gear. I tried to remember that these were mainly skill sessions anyway and that once I was certified, I would be able to experience "real" diving on one of the many dive trips that my boyfriend and I plan to take.
Fortunately, I didn't have to wait that long. For our last two dives, my instructor (Club Member Bobby Mertz) decided to take us all on The Blue Escape charter boat to the Coronado Islands. It was a stroke of genius! As we approached our anchoring point, the Dive Master explained that this was a place called The Keyhole due to the hourglass shaped opening in the rocks. He explained that if we went through the keyhole, we would be in the midst of a bunch of Sea Lions sunning themselves. I was very excited by this prospect, but Bobby explained that we would not be going through the Keyhole, and would instead perform our skills on the surface near the boat and then underwater a short distance away near the rocks. Disappointed, I entered the water and began the dive. The first thing I noticed was how clear the water was. The visibility was a good 50 feet and the sun dancing on the water was beautiful. My spirits
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little slower. It was a Sea Lion! I couldn't believe my eyes. A very frisky and inquisitive Sea Lion was circling the group and pausing on the surface to bark at us. I was laughing with joy. This was almost too good to be true. This kind of thing surely was not happening to someone as ordinary as me. These were tales from books and scenes from movies. I was absolutely astonished that I was experiencing these pleasures first hand.
We then descended to do our skills and while waiting for my turn, I had time to reflect on this remarkable day. I knelt there on the bottom with a newfound sense of awe for this extraordinary, breathtaking world called the sea. I also felt a sense of accomplishment and respect for myself. I had turned a dream into a reality and opened up a whole new kingdom of beauty and wonder to explore for years to come. I am so proud to have joined the ranks of this special and elite group of individuals who call themselves Scuba Divers.
I know these experiences have happened a million times to a million other divers and may become mundane after years of diving, but this was truly a dream come true. This was why I had wanted to become a diver. I had long dreamed of being one with the ocean, of interacting with sea life and experiencing the beautiful tranquility of the underwater world. And it happened--exactly as I had imagined. I can't adequately express in words the thrill I felt in those moments, but I know you all have been there. It's why you get back in the water again and again. It's why you travel the globe for the opportunity to explore new oceans and it's why you try to engage others in this wonderful sport. I hope I have reminded you of those first thrilling moments when your diving dreams came true and of all the special and awe inspiring encounters you have experienced since then. I can't wait to get back in the water!
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