Col. Panic's Journal: Beach Dives

Today was the day we were waiting for - open water diving. Unfortunately, visibility was 10-15 feet and there was a pretty strong current, but we got plenty of exercise and the weather was perfect.

Although my main reason for taking this course was recreation and everything has been fun, I should point out that this is a serious class. You have to read a 200 page book and fill out 5 chapter tests, attend 2 classroom sessions with quizes, and take a final exam. Also, most of the time in the water (pool or ocean) is spent demonstrating the skills you have learned in class. The fun should peak tomorrow morning on the boat dives - no trudging across a beach carrying gear, just load it on the boat and the rest should be mostly recreation.

Cool stuff: saw a skate buried under the sand, saw some red fire coral (DONT TOUCH!), and some kind of crablike thingy the instructor called a "cleaning station". Fish will swim up to this thing and it will clean the parasites from their gills, etc. Pretty neat.

One thing I have been slow to learn is to *look around* and make only slow, gentle movements. Also I have to learn to keep less air in my lungs because even with 16 lbs of weight and a deflated BCD I am having some trouble staying just off the ocean floor. The wetsuit and salt water make you pretty bouyant so breathing control is key.

More diving tomorrow!-