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This page will include a running commentary that will include my thoughts, fears and successes in becoming an avid sport diver. At Diverstravel.com we believe that we are just like you, in this
case my experience will probably match yours as a new snorkeler and diver in many ways. I encourage you to send your comments about this page, and any other on this site to me at drh2o@diverstravel.com.
B.D. ( Before Diving)
Maybe you could always swim, but my story starts back even further than that. In May of 1996 I went on a trip to Hawaii. Before any trip I always do extensive research, not because I want to see
everything, but because I am a data fiend. I love learning about new places. As I began to learn about Hawaii I realized what an opportunity I would have to see water that was not like what I am used to in New England. I grew up watching Hawaii- 5-O and Magnum P.I.
on television. It helped, of course, that Bonnie, my friend and co-founder of Diverstravel.com, was also going on the trip. For two years she kept telling me how great snorkeling was, and I kept saying I could not swim. She kept assuring me that she could teach me.
I finally decided to try it in Hawaii, just to shut her up! Some people just will not give up until you fail miserably and drown.
In any event, my research also led me to thinking about why I had such a time learning to swim as a kid. Thirty years ago I went to camp, at the YWCA, and learned how to swim, very well, holding
my breath underwater. But I never could do much on the surface. It was always a struggle. I never felt as comfortable as the other kids appeared. Now I think it had to do with my being an "auditory learner". Swim training usually consisted of showing
people, I needed to hear and then be shown. It all happened too fast for me. Auditory learners are a pretty small number and the training was set up for the majority, I suppose.
I am telling you this because I think there are other people out there who want to get into the water themselves but they do not believe that they can learn to swim. Try another method for
learning. The YWCA has more flexible training now. There are individual coaches who can help you. Do not let old fears prevent you from seeing the ocean below!
Try just sitting in the water first. Look around. Then get a mask and look into the water. Speaking of masks, if you are worried about learning to clear a mask, get one with a purge valve. Just
exhale through your nose and the water runs out. Think about ways to make the experience work for you. As these stories go along,
I'll share how I continued to work out problems.
In addition to my purge mask, I also have a "dry" snorkel. They actually mean that. Almost no water gets into the thing. But neither does any air when water covers the end! It does not
purge the same way a conventional snorkel does, but I was reassured by this piece of equipment. Bonnie gave me a pair of killer fins and I was ready to go. Or so I thought. She wanted to make certain that I would not panic and stand up on a reef, or otherwise
disturb the ocean realm. So I spent a fun filled afternoon learning to use my equipment in the pool at the Turtle Bay Hilton. It did feel pretty silly, but she would not budge until I was able to float, clear my mask and paddle around a little.
Finally, I was allowed to make the long walk down to the beach and into the water, after another reminder about not standing on the reef. We scrambled over the rocks, stepped down into the
beautiful blue water, put on our gear and floated out into another world. In about a minute, after I remembered I could breathe, I began to focus on my surroundings. I could see the rocks, some plants and fish. FISH! Small bright colored demons were all around me.
Everywhere I looked! For a moment I thought my "dry" snorkel had failed, I was swallowing water. Then I realized that I no longer had a tight seal on the mouthpiece, because I was smiling so hard.
At no point during this first foray was I ever in water deeper than four feet. I could not believe what I was seeing. Still I was not ready to give up my cranky mood about not wanting to try
snorkeling at all. I was determined to emerge from the water and say something like "It was okay, but no biggie." What came out was "Do we have to get out? When can we go again? I'm ready now. Are we going back later? Who cares about the volcano
tomorrow, can't we go snorkeling?" I had become a nuisance, but I did not care.
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