Laine Slowski

This is a bucket list experience for many people, myself included.  It takes hours of training to become a certified diver but, luckily for me, companies in Cairns offer day lessons for those who have not done it before.

It is a test of perseverance from getting the gear on to following through with the dive (I nearly chickened out).

Sitting on a bench, in my wetsuit, the instructor strapped me up to an oxygen tank.  Carrying the equipment to the edge of the boat felt like an eternal struggle.

Into the water I go!

Holding tightly onto the guide rope, I lowered myself below the ocean’s surface.  It didn’t take long for my mask to fill up with water.  Panic set in and I rose to the surface.

It feels claustrophobic having the mask full of water and oxygen bubbles surround my face.  The guide reassured that I’ll be safe from these annoyances.

Back into the water we go!

Holding on to the hand of the instructor we swam underneath the boat, coming face to face with some funny looking fish.  I reached my arm out to touch them and found, to my surprise, that they weren’t so close after all.  The water magnifies the appearance of objects.

The underwater photographer swam around us, capturing every encounter we had.  The best photo of the day was mine with Nemo and Marlin.

Old fears and new anxieties kicked in during this experience, but I’d be happy to do it all over again.