As a young child you could find me flipping through the pages of National Geographic staring at the photos. The photos that seemed the most interesting, the ones I studied the longest with my youthful eyes, were the underwater photography images. I loved sharks, whales, dolphins, anything underwater.
Many years later I have accomplished a childhood goal, to become an open water certified scuba diver, and begin the exciting journey of taking my own underwater photographs. Perhaps many of you thought scuba diving was too hard to learn. I thought there maybe was a lot of calculating and math problems, or a variety of other reasons. I knew I wanted to do this and lucky for me, I found the best place to do it- Manta Divers in Kenosha, WI. I was given a gift certificate for a “Try Scuba” class and decided to also do the “Try Snorkel” class as well. It is true what they say about divers, they are happier than everyone else. (I would learn this on a video in my scuba class). Owners Mike and Lisa Bain not only are passionate about diving; they are also extremely patient, have a wonderful sense of humor and are very encouraging. You can’t help but catch the “dive” bug when you are around them.
I am an average swimmer, over 40 and overweight. In the water, the water doesn’t care. In the snorkel class you put on the mask, fins and snorkel gear on and with proper instruction you learn to kick, breathe and descend. If you have snorkeled in the past, say over 10 years ago and hated it, you have to try this again. Snorkels today are much easier to clear as they have a valve that makes it so much easier to clear it. If you tried a solid plastic snorkel in the past and choked on water, those days are gone, thankfully. It’s a whole new world now!
The “Try Scuba” class was exciting and a little scary. Need I mention that humans cannot breathe underwater without air strapped to their backs? The staff helps you put on the gear, and explain what it is, what it does, and how to use it correctly. This isn’t a class where they rush you. Soon you have on all the gear and are in the pool. You may be with one or two other students and your instructor. Other staff is in the pool and on the deck for safety. Then the big event happens; your first breath from the regulator. You put it in your mouth and take a few breaths, calming your fears that it will still work once you put your head underwater. The instructor signals you to put your head under water and you do it. You breathe, you look at the students and your teacher and realize something amazing- everyone is smiling and happy. You did it. Granted you are in the shallow end of the pool, but you are doing it, you are excited, and you are breathing underwater and are surprisingly calm after a few minutes.
After a few exercises they take you to the deep end (okay 8 feet isn’t really that deep but it is still cool) and you check out the plastic toys on the bottom of the pool. You toss a rubber humpback whale to your fellow student or an underwater torpedo to your teacher. You think, this is great fun, this is easy, and I want to do this. Too soon the class is over and you don’t want to get out of the pool. You can do this you think to yourself, you have always wanted to do this.
Mike and Lisa could ask you what you thought and if you liked it, but your smile and excitement tells them all they need to know. You are hooked.
I personally thought I couldn’t learn to dive because of the dive tables; I am terrible in math, and thought I wouldn’t pass the test. I psyched myself out for years and sure wish I would have checked it out sooner. Okay all of you fellow math- stressed people I have exciting news! There isn’t any math! In the past they used dive tables, but now, they use a dive calculator. If you can punch numbers on a calculator, then you will do just fine! Even better, Lisa shared that they will begin to offer a dive computer based class that will free you from the dive table and the dive calculator and teach you instead, to use a dive computer. Don’t let math stop you from living your dream! I didn’t, and now you won’t have any worries or excuses!
Once you decide you are hooked and sign up for the class you get your book, video and log book. The videos are very good and give great examples and are also fun to watch. The book is an easy read with plenty of definitions. My teacher was Lisa; she covered the material with her own special teaching style. She adds personal dive experience, stories and a great sense of humor to the material. She is one of those people who you learn a lot from but don’t realize it until you get home and quiz yourself. The material is important, at times serious in regard to safety, but the ultimate goal of diving is to enjoy yourself and the underwater world, make new friends, and travel. After the class, you cannot wait to get in the water.
My first open water dive was in a lake in Kenosha, Wisconsin. (Not the Cayman Islands where in my dreams I thought it would take place.) Actually, I am kind of glad. For one thing I wear contacts when I dive and having to clear my mask, or take off my mask in salt water does not appeal to me. I also think a small lake is good to begin with as the fish aren’t huge; there is no drop off and no sharks to worry about.
My teacher Lisa, two other students and I held onto a rope and descended to the slowly to the bottom. Small fish darted around me, I tried to breathe deeply and relax but I was excited! I was scuba diving! Me! The more times you spend diving I think the better you get. I was much better on my last open water dive, my kick was smoother, had more confidence, and after passing my open water tests, felt a great deal of accomplishment. The next question that pops in your head is- When will I dive next?
Having many lakes, quarries and of course Lake Michigan so close there are countless opportunities to gain experience and enjoy diving with new friends. You don’t have to fly somewhere exotic to dive, although they do have great trips so check them out. Why would you only want to dive in salt water once or twice a year when you can dive in fresh water 3-4 times a month in the spring, summer and fall!
After you complete your open water diver certification you can build upon your diving by taking other certifications and you can work up to being a Dive Master! There are so many things you can do in diving; you won’t get bored that is for sure! Take underwater photography or underwater navigation?
I hope those of you on the fence will take a class and learn for yourself how much fun it can be. It’s okay to be nervous, but the nerves will soon give way to excitement, which give way to that big smile on your face.
Check out Manta Divers at www.mantadiveshop.com
