I’ve always wanted to learn to dive. Like white water rafting and mastering the art of Spanish, it’s been a fixture on my ‘to do’ list for a while.
So I finally decided to do something about it!
Over the weekend, my boyfriend Ash and I became one step closer to becoming certified recreational divers by starting a SSI (Scuba Schools International) course at Adventure Water Sports in Manukau.
It’s interesting to note in the lead-up to our dive course, most people referred to it as a PADI (Professional Academy of Diving Instructors) – a blanket term many are familiar with but one that’s theoretically incorrect. Although SSI and PADI are essentially one in the same, they aren’t the same. When I asked the course instructor to explain the difference between the two, he likened them to Holden and Ford – both good car brands, but each unique in a number of ways. He also mentioned another course called NAUI (National Association of Underwater Instructors), reputable and internationally recognised as well, but different again. I recommend doing your research and figuring out what your needs are before settling on a course provider.
I’m not going to lie – I was very nervous the night before we kicked off. Although I’ve been around the water most of my life, the thought of descending into the depths of the ocean made me uneasy. I had a lot of questions I felt I needed answers to before I could fully relax. Admittedly, most of these queries revolved around the topic of man-eating sea life.
After quizzing the instructor (at length) about sharks – how many he’d seen, whether he knew any divers who’d had unfortunate encounters with them, what the most dangerous breeds are and where they’re found etc – I managed to collect my cool. Unsurprisingly, without any further burning shark questions, focusing on the task at hand became much easier.
As soon as we got underway in the classroom, it became pretty clear why doing the theory work prior to the course starting is recommended. Seriously – you’re only making life hard for yourself if you turn up not having done it. Like the scholarship students I resented at high school, Ash and I turned up with the readings completed and the homework exercises done. Although doing this was hard to squeeze into a hectic working week, it meant we had a leg up on those who hadn’t opened the prescribed book or switched on the DVD.
A solid amount of bookwork and a few dry dives later, we were finally ready to hit the water.
First of all, I’d just like to say that until you’ve spent three hours diving around the bottom of a public swimming pool, there is no way you can comprehend how many ‘things’ inhabit one. From clumps of hair, old sticky plasters and rusty hair clips to pieces of toilet paper and abandoned goggles… There was a lot to see.
I loved the time spent in the water. Putting everything we’d learnt into action was a great feeling and being at the pool made me excited for the next step towards getting certified, our open water dives!
