I can't swim, so I can't dive!! #NOTTRUE

Happy that my previous post created some curiosity about diving :) Always happy to have friends discover the joy of the underwater world.

I know I said I would post about my experiences at the limited amount of dive destinations I've been to in the past year, but I thought I'd share about my journey in becoming an avid diver too!

There was a question posed by someone - "Do I need to know how to swim if I want to scuba dive?"

Guess what - the answer is NO!

How do I know that? Because I am a great swimmer, but I started off being one of the worst students my instructor ever had, for the simple fact that I am a swimmer! Of course, everyone's experience will be different, so I am just sharing mine - this might not apply to other swimmers + divers out there.

I remember scoring 98% for the theory test for the Open Water Course, and everyone had their money on me excelling during the open water skills in Pulau Tenggol. When that moment came, I surprised even myself (and everyone else) - the very first time I descended into the sea (it was only 5m) and touched the bottom, there was only one thought that was racing through my mind.

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OMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMGOMG - I need to move, I need to be on the surface, the water is crashing down on me, I cannot breathe, safety is at the surface, I need to go up NOWWWWWWWWWWW!!!!!!! 

**************

So I did surface, almost immediately, and to my own disappointment, I couldn't make myself go down again. Despite the dive master (who was assisting the instructor) trying to calm me down and coax me to continue, I gave an ultimatum (with some tears too - coz it was just way too overwhelming for me #drama I know), that I will not complete the Open Water course.

"Diving is just not for me," I said convincingly to all of them. Embarrassed of myself too, but of course, I coated that with lots of 'confidence' about my decision.

You see, for me, as a swimmer, my natural reflex when I am in the water is to stay on the surface, and keep moving. That's what we swimmers do! I'm as island girl (Penang FTW!), I grew up loving the water and swimming is a favourite pastime. So how did this happen?

It never crossed my mind that scuba diving is all about being relaxed, being calm, level-headed, super alert to your surroundings, trust, and just being in the moment.

Not bulldozing through the waters like what I normally do when I hit the pool / swim in the sea.

Many of my friends who dive, actually don't swim too! So, if you are wondering if you need to know how to swim to scuba dive - the answer is NO :) In fact, the non-swimmers are the ones that have no pre-conceived ideas of having to move all the time & be on the surface and actually enjoy the experience of being underwater instantly.

Passed with flying colours on my 2nd attempt at the Open Water Course. This is the instructor who certified me in April 2014

So what happened after that was:

• Got home, ridiculed by the fact that I was so determined to do it but failed - decided to practice all the skills at the Pusat Akuatik Shah Alam pool (it's 5m deep and many people go there to practice too). 
• Returned to Pulau Tenggol with a few friends and my instructor, and repeated the OW course. And the rest is history!! :) 

Hope this is of some value to anyone out there wondering if you should take up scuba diving or not. It is simple - Why Not? :D