BoldspiritTravels on a budget: PADI Open Water Certificate through my eyes. # 1 😅 [Solo backpacking on a budget in Latin America]

Scuba-diving is about making the connection with the underwater world, experiencing its beauty. Enjoying the fact that you are able to breathe while being in the water, all against human nature. And most importantly, each dive brings you new opportunity to observe wildlife and its variety. Chances are that you will earn more respect to Mother Nature and the environment.

Yet, in my today’s story, I want to write more from a perspective of a person who does not really feel at ease under water.

I have heard so many stories from people who scuba-dive. Most of my friends got the opportunity to do it already in high-school or during their first years at a university.
Scuba-diving is an expensive activity. The truth is that my friends could do it because they got it sponsored by their parents. And I wasn’t in a similar financial situation. But I knew I will try scuba-dive because I felt attracted to the underwater world. Additionally, I like to push my limits. After all, water is not my natural environment, I have learned how to swim when I was 19. And although I love to swim since then, having my head underwater or diving makes me a little bit uncomfortable. On the other hand, I feel that this may simply be a question of practice. 😅 When I was taking care of my lovely niece and we were spending a lot of time in a swimming pool, where she was learning to swim, she was encouraged by her trainer to have fun, dive, make spins etc. So obviously she got accustomed to the feeling of having water in her swim goggles or to other disturbing things and felt at ease. 😁

PADI Open Water Certificate doesn’t allow you to dive alone. Well, it basically is only necessary if you want to continue with diving and deepen your abilities. I did it because I would love to master mine one day. Anyway, my course lasted 3 days (it generally can last up to 5 days depending on a school) and provided me with practical activities. What concerns a theory - I got a book that I had to study after “classes”. I ended up with learning all during the last evening. Classic! 😉 😂

I already used a term “challenging”. Yes, the practical part was a challenge to me. While diving you need to learn some basic ways of behaviors under water. It is crucial that if anything unusual happens, you don’t panic. So, for example, I needed to take off my mask being 4 meters under the water. I don’t really understand why it was so difficult. All lay in our heads, I am fully aware of it. In this particular situation, I was afraid that I would lose my contact lenses if I open my eyes without the mask. And it really made me uncomfortable. So even though there are other activities much more demanding and difficult, I remember this one as my personal challenge.
Something that I have heard was causing problems to many was an activity that required you to take off your mouthpiece (a part of a regulator i.e. something that allows you to safely breathe under the water). I didn’t have issues with this one, but you can see my point - there are some tasks that may make you upsetting.

Most of the people I know were training in the swimming pool and then had the scuba-dives in the sea. I had all of the activities directly in the sea which I found exciting and super amusing. No faking, no emergency exit.😉 😂

Ah, I just remembered how funny it was to me to breathe with my mouth instead of a nose. And experiencing weightlessness. 😅

Thank you for being here with me. I hope until next time!
Pura Vida and enjoy your journey! 💛

• Some of my recommendations:
  🍀 Just take it S L O W. Slow movement and travel.
  🍀 Would you consider adopting a dog?
  🍀 Gustav Klimt. “All art is erotic.” (# 1) and # 2
  🍀 TED – the amazing world of "ideas worth spreading".