I'm headed to Monterey this weekend for my PADI Open Water Scuba Certification dives. I'm really excited about it. I spent all last weekend in the classroom and pool taking the tests and quizzes and practicing the skills. I think I did pretty well.
It was a bit unnerving at first, when you first put your face underwater and breathe. But I just remembered that I could snorkle, and this was no different (okay, I know it is different, but in the basic face-in-water-still-breathing-way it's the same). I took deep, slow breaths and I was fine.
The only skill I had real trouble with was removing my mask underwater and replacing it. For some reason I couldn't get the coordination between breathing only through my mouth. I kept trying to breathe through my nose. Which would cause me to spit and cough. I hadn't actually done it, but I tried the swim without mask anyway. I was able to do the swim just fine and I was able to put my mask back and clear it afterwards with no problems.
I also have some buoyancy control issues (I seem to have floaty feet), but Marnee (our instructor) says that it's the hardest thing for beginners to get. And that it will be easier in the ocean when it's deeper than 12 feet. We shall see.
Things will probably be rather quiet next week. I come back from Monterey Sunday night and go straight to San Francisco for PeopleSoft Connect. I'm working at the Information Booth. It should be fun. I get to talk with people all day and point them in the right direction. And PS pays to put me up in a hotel in the city. No making my bed or cleaning the cat box. Woo-hoo!
