Was it your first dive? I did with our Fire Brigade crew both courses (what we call "free dive" - with snorkel - and "autonomous dive" - with air bottle) and got my diving license. And - as men are jerks - bought something I did use only once: a spear gun. Looking at the fish dying at the end of the spear made me realize how stupid and cruel this kind of "sport" was. Now I just dive... and marvel at the sights of the sea.
Marvelous post as always