For the past few weeks my bestie Deborah and I have been on a mission to finish our scuba diving classes. My new friend Jack, who is Deborah’s neighbor and manager at Divers Supply in Marietta, was kind enough to take time out of his evenings to teach us necessary knowledge and know how to dive. Needless to say that four classes on four separate days averaging 3.5 hours per lesson in a two week time span is valuable time. So valuable that I’d like the chance to thank them for the umpteenth time, once again.
So, it’s happening… my crawl is turning into a footstep and my footsteps are about to turn into a giant stride, literally. One of my new favorite ways to enter the water with all of my scuba gear on is called a giant stride. In the movies you may always see people roll backwards off the side of a boat… tbut his is another form of entry into the water.
My Open Water Certification took place in the company of two Master scuba divers Kuba and Chris. Both which have over 1000+ dives easy. Two characters which made the weekend fun for the 15 of us newbies to the scuba world.
After our first diveon a Saturday afternoon my depth guage read 38 ft. at Blue Grotto near Lake City Florida. [ My deepest dive to date ] :) I think I went a little deeper than I was suppose to, but still stayed on the rope to follow into and out of the cavern. This was a strange first dive because for cavern dives, you do not have a straight ascent. You have to go up at an angle, or through the cavern to even see natural light. We did not go that deep to where it was pitch black, we always had natural light - but the fact that there was an overhang of the natural cavern was a bit strange for the first logged dive.
Second and third dives were used to practice the skills we learned in the pool during training. Mask clearing, buddy breathing, navigation, bouyancy, CESA (ascent procedure) and much more! But by the third dive, the 72 degree water took its tool on our bodies. We were pretty cold by the last dive as most of the heat from your body escapes through your head, plus... when you attempt 3 dives a day, your heat is lost naturally the more you are in the water. So our last dive was cut short a bit, but still worth it! (shivering)
The next day, Sunday - bright and before the sunrise we were off in to Rainbow River, a natural hot water spring which was absolutely devine. The manatees usually swim upstream in this river, however where we dove the manatees do not have access that far upstream. I saw turtles, fish upon fish of many sizes and schools, a pike some of the coolest scenery I've ever seen. Plus it was a drift dive which pretty means you stay bouyant and the river helps you along - naturally - down stream with its current.
Here are more pictures via facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2014775&id=78100760
Divers Supply offers free scuba diving intro classes ever first and third Wednesday of the month. They also provide trips monthly on location to get your scuba diving certification. Check their website here for more information if you interested in starting to scuba dive!
http://www.divers-supply.com/Divers-Supply-Marietta-C118.aspx
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