Taking the plunge into scuba diving
5 things to consider when moving from tadpole to mermaid.
Scuba diving has always been seen as an extreme sport and as such it has mostly been a male sport. More recently the industry started to change, seeing more and more women become certified and entering into the dive industry and professionals. Special women dive days are being arranged all over the world and even equipment manufacturers have started to release well researched ladies’ lines of gear.
Here are a few hints and tips if you would like to learn to breathe underwater:
Go with the flow… of you
Scuba diving is and amazing experience… it is sometimes also a scary one. Most of us have gotten a bit nervous or scared one more than a few occasions (if we are absolutely honest with ourselves). Fear is ok, it is healthy, it keeps you safe. As a dive instructor one of the most valuable life lessons that I learned through diving is empowerment, seeing my students face their fear head on, push through it and come out on the other side stronger. We all progress at our own pace, take all the time that you need and do not feel pressured to do something you are not comfortable with. Remember that you haven’t failed until you say “I can’t do it”.
Where to go
There are a number of amazing dive destinations around Asia but for a lady traveller looking for something off the beaten track take a look at Gilli Meno in Indonesia, Koh Lipe in Thailand or El Nido on Palawan in the Philippines. These islands offer a quieter, less commercial island atmosphere while still having options of going out to party.
Choose your instructor
You absolutely have the right to choose who you train with. Visit a few different dive centres and speak to the staff, get to know them a little bit and then go with the person who you feel the most comfortable with.
Leave the make-up on the shore
There is no need to put on full make up, including foundation, mascara and blush to spend two hours in the pool and come up with snot all over your face anyway. Diving is not as glamorous as Charlie’s Angels made it out to be. Your hair will be a mess most of the time and your nose will be red from the sun. On the up side, you will walk away with an awesome tan, natural highlights in your hair and some amazing memories.
It will change your life
Sounds a bit dramatic, doesn’t it? Imagine for a second, though, that you enter into a whole new world, surrounded but creatures that you have never seen before (ok, perhaps that one time on TV), in a space where you don’t even move in the same way you would on land. How can it not? And isn’t that one of the most exciting thoughts you had today?
This article first appeared at www.zafigo.com
