Hi, from a Texas schoolteacher! I'm brand new to this sport, in fact- I will complete my open water dives in two weeks, so I'm not even officially certified yet! But, what I lack in experience, I make up for in ...uh, excitement? Probably the best way to introduce myself is to paste a copy of my first post I put on the women's board. A poster had asked how to get his gf interested in diving, and this is my reply:
"I loved to snorkel, but it was really scary to me to think about going down deep... chances are, that's what she's thinking in the back of her mind. Then, I went on a dive trip with my husband (PADI cert) and some other family members (in the carribbean last summer) and snorkeled above them while they dove. I really started getting a yearning to be down there with them! Then, when we returned from the trip and saw the awesome video that the dive shop had made of their dive (all set to music, it looked like something out of Discovery Channel!), I decided that I was going to have to go do that, SOMEDAY...
Well, I started classes about a month after returning home. I was bad. I mean, really bad. I panicked if water got in my mask, etc- had a lot of trouble clearing my mask properly. I also was fitted with a reg that wasn't working efficiently (found out later when my husband used it to help on some checkout dives). I REALLY wanted to dive, though! To make a long story short, these are the highlights: I cried, quit, came back, cried, changed instructors (other one had to move), wanted to quit, wanted to cry... then one night, in the deep end, I looked around and suddenly had this euphoria surge through me- I was DIVING and I was loving it! Finally!!! Since then, I've had a new confidence and look so forward to my classes. I will finally certify open water in a couple of weeks, when I go do my checkout dives. Then the following week, we leave for our 25th wedding anniversary blowout- a cruise to Roatan, Belize, Cancun & Cozumel. Can't wait to go dive there!!!
I'm sure all you instructors out there are happy that you didn't have me on your hands
But I am really proud of myself that I didn't let my "issues" keep me from diving, and I'm looking forward to learning more about this great sport, and plan to get my advanced open water, next. Also, if anyone needs encouragement, I will be glad to help them, including your gf. Oh by the way, this is my first ever post...
Glad to be here!
Foo"
Well, that about sums it up- I have been reading your board for a few weeks now, and plan to continue learning from you- thanks for welcoming me into this awesome group. You people have sooo much knowledge, I love it! Thanks again,
Foo
"I loved to snorkel, but it was really scary to me to think about going down deep... chances are, that's what she's thinking in the back of her mind. Then, I went on a dive trip with my husband (PADI cert) and some other family members (in the carribbean last summer) and snorkeled above them while they dove. I really started getting a yearning to be down there with them! Then, when we returned from the trip and saw the awesome video that the dive shop had made of their dive (all set to music, it looked like something out of Discovery Channel!), I decided that I was going to have to go do that, SOMEDAY...
Well, I started classes about a month after returning home. I was bad. I mean, really bad. I panicked if water got in my mask, etc- had a lot of trouble clearing my mask properly. I also was fitted with a reg that wasn't working efficiently (found out later when my husband used it to help on some checkout dives). I REALLY wanted to dive, though! To make a long story short, these are the highlights: I cried, quit, came back, cried, changed instructors (other one had to move), wanted to quit, wanted to cry... then one night, in the deep end, I looked around and suddenly had this euphoria surge through me- I was DIVING and I was loving it! Finally!!! Since then, I've had a new confidence and look so forward to my classes. I will finally certify open water in a couple of weeks, when I go do my checkout dives. Then the following week, we leave for our 25th wedding anniversary blowout- a cruise to Roatan, Belize, Cancun & Cozumel. Can't wait to go dive there!!!
I'm sure all you instructors out there are happy that you didn't have me on your hands
But I am really proud of myself that I didn't let my "issues" keep me from diving, and I'm looking forward to learning more about this great sport, and plan to get my advanced open water, next. Also, if anyone needs encouragement, I will be glad to help them, including your gf. Oh by the way, this is my first ever post... Glad to be here!
Foo"
Well, that about sums it up- I have been reading your board for a few weeks now, and plan to continue learning from you- thanks for welcoming me into this awesome group. You people have sooo much knowledge, I love it! Thanks again,
Foo
