kimbalabala
Contributor
I finally got to change my category to 100-199 dives! We spent last week diving in Key Largo (diving with Scuba-Do who I highly recommend) and I am now at 112 dives. It felt like this trip had that golden moment when things seem to fall together. My buoyancy improved and I was able to drop some weight - probably should have dropped a little more but didn't want to push it when I only had a few dives left while there. Over the past year I have become a more independent and competent diver - and it has made me more confident both in and out of the water. There's something very rewarding about taking responsibility for your life support system and doing so competently. I'm not in danger of becoming cavalier or careless - I check and recheck everything and never depend on someone else to take care of my gear and make sure my air is on - and I think that's what has built my confidence so much. This is an awesome responsibility and I have lived up to it, and when needed I have been able to aid others in the water (for little things like dropped weight pouches or unsecured hoses). My SAC is steadily improving and I'm no longer consistently in the head-up position. I'm one of those people that I admired two years ago, who can hover near the bottom to look at a lobster hidden under a ledge, and go through a swim-through without stirring up the sand and silt. I'm not the dork who rushes in and kicks up the sand and ruins the view for everyone else - and I'm not using my hands to fin - and I'm finally getting the frog kick!!! Yee ha!!! If you've been diving a long time you might remember this feeling - or maybe this is just no big deal for you - but this was a huge milestone for me and I'm SOOO happy for having successfully getting past that 100 dive marker.
