InsightsfromtheMat

Open Water Dive  4 - This was awesome!   First time I was not nervous.  (This may be for many reasons, but the fact that we had been diving in the exact same spot every day, I think increased my confidence.)    First time I got to dive with a computer, YIPEE TECHNOLOGY!   First time I got to swim a compass pattern, since I love maps and sextons, this was really cool.  (I did notice I was obsessed with the compass and almost ran into the pier.)   Lesson to remember for that adventure dive.  I was able to set the safety stop.  I saw the world around me, and I enjoyed what I was doing.  (I am not going to lie the first 3 dives were work.  But hard work is the only way to progress in your skills.) I finally stopped using my hands to direct me.  My hands now have a place under my tank or holding on to my shorts (I am not perfect-lol) .  But they don't flail out in the water.  Bonus fo...

Day 2 - Dive 2 and 3 Thanksgiving Day- boy am I thankful for this opportunity.  Megan and I get a lot of - God, we love your life .  It is not perfect and we have problems, like everyone else, but as I was writing this post this blog spoke to why we do some of what we do.  Check it out if you are looking to add some adventure to your life.   Adventure forces us OUTSIDE our comfort zone. Troy-2017 We doubled up on my open water dives on Thanksgiving Day to give us more opportunities to explore Curacao as a larger group.  So Dive #2 - was the result of Troy.  He is the EXACT opposite of Sameer.  Troy is a joker and you should not believe half of what he says ( sorry Troy ).  He is, however, an incredible diver/instructor.  He gave me most of my written tests, and helped me to understand how to you manual dive tables.  This was something that did not come easy to me.  Hovering - or as Troy Calls it- Making Pancakes- 20...

I have now been in open water 4 times and I am PADI Certified.  I am NOT an expert, but this was my experience learning to dive.  I have to start with a shout out to  Caribbean Sea Sports .  The staff and dive instructors were amazing. First Under Water Experience - Curacao 2017   My primary instructor was Sameer.  He is wonderful.  He is quiet, calm, methodical.  All of which I needed.  I had some real anxiety before this trip.  My brain knows that the chances of getting eaten underwater are very small, however, fear is fear. My Dive Instructor Sameer 2017 The entire group went on my first dive.  Megan is already certified, Megan and Dan are not, but decided to give it a whirl.  They played in the lagoon.  Megan Z stated she was the best diver in 6 inches of water and I agree! Either good or bad, we had some equipment issues with my new equipment this trip.  It happens, and honestly that did more to ma...