My Return to the Deep
I first learned to dive in 2003 while on a university internship in California. I was immediately enamored with the tranquility and otherworldliness of this underwater world and eager to unlock its secrets, but it wasn’t an activity that came easily to me (something I found very frustrating). I persisted, however, and completed both my Open Water and Advanced Open Water certifications within two years, hoping to find comfort through experience and training. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the time or the finances to dive often and on the few occasions that I did, I found myself with people who didn’t necessarily treat the activity or the people with the respect they deserved. So instead of getting more confident, I found myself getting more anxious, finding reasons not to get in the water. Over time, my gear got dusty, and I slipped back into a terrestrial life.
Fast forward almost 20 years, an expedition to study orca in Norway reignited my passion for the ocean. Then a couple of years later, I found myself on an exciting project that would require me to don a BCD and venture under the waves. As the reality of this began to sink in there were so many things swirling around my head — After so many years, would I still be able to do this? Would I be able to trust the people around me? Would I panic in the water and injure myself? Would I enjoy it? Would I get horribly seasick on the boat? Is it even worth it?
Many of those questions I knew I wouldn’t be able to answer until I jumped into the ocean again, but as someone who likes to be in control, I was desperate to find something, ANYTHING, I could do beforehand to start rebuilding my confidence. The first thing I did was sign up for a refresher course. I worked through the online training diligently, making checklists and visualizing setting up gear, and then went to my local dive shop and went diving in their pool until I felt as comfortable as possible descending, ascending, and controlling buoyancy. I even tried to master juggling underwater (I failed).
The second thing I did was seek advice from my fellow Seabird, Tiff, who recommended her local shop, the wonderful Key Dives, as the place to go for my first dives back. They made me feel unbelievably comfortable, acting with care, kindness and professionalism when I told them my experience level and worries. Together, the pool prep and going out with such a conscientious operation made for a truly glorious experience. I had no problem descending, felt in control of buoyancy, and was rewarded with a sea turtle sighting in the first 10 seconds. That was followed by nurse sharks, moray eels, a scorpion fish, and more.
Over the next 11 days I would end up doing 17 dives, spending 13 hours underwater, surrounded by people I trusted and who demonstrated model underwater behaviors. Thanks to them and the incredible feeling of being underwater, I feel so much better. The idea of going diving finally excites me. After getting some more recreational dives under my belt, I would even like to get my rescue diver certification.
I am still a mountain girl at heart, but I’m glad I can once again moonlight as an ocean girl every now and then.
Dr. Louise Edwards, is an Earth scientist, learning designer, explorer and award-winning creator of educational VR. Louise’s focus on interdisciplinary, inquiry-based and authentic learning and her desire to share the inaccessible secrets of the planet with her students inspired her to explore VR and game-based learning.
