Just Do the Dive!

I could possibly be taking this whole “Freedom55” thing too far, but I recently decided to tackle my PADI open water SCUBA dive certification.?While I have completed beginner dives before, people still ask why I am pursuing this level of commitment to diving.?Invariably they make comments referring to themselves like “I could never do that” or “I would be way too afraid”.?I decided in May there would be no more beginner dives for me and upon returning home from a trip down south, I immediately signed up for the SCUBA open water course and paid the money before I could change my mind.?I finished the online content and exam, and then accelerated through the skills in the local community pool.?Completing my required open water dives in Lake Ontario didn’t seem terribly appealing so I returned to the sunny south last month to finish things off for the certification.?Without question, this experience pushed me well outside of my comfort zone but in the aftermath, I was also reminded of some important life lessons, both professionally and personally.

Lesson 1: Every day is an opportunity to push your personal limits.

People sometimes comment to me that I appear to be ‘living my best life’.?I’m not exactly sure what this means but I do know that pushing your personal limits, whatever those happen to be, makes every day an amazing opportunity for personal growth.?Part of what identifies those limits is the rush of adrenalin that comes with an intense situation or activity, often accompanied or followed by incredible mental focus.?Diving for me is a beautiful demonstration of this – the adrenalin that surged through my body as I jumped into the ocean with my gear and started my descent, followed by focused breathing through that regulator with every sound amplified as a reminder to keep going.?What was unique about this experience was the quiet of the ocean world, which enabled a different kind of focus – not just on breathing but on really observing and participating in the ocean world around me.?I’m not sure if this is something I can recreate on land, but I will certainly be trying.?

Lesson 2: Life is not a solo act.

The SCUBA experience reminded me that divers never go down alone – the journey shouldn’t be solo.?There were many people who supported me through this process including: 1) My confined water dive master here in Toronto who convinced me I could actually take my mask off underwater, get it back on my head and then successfully cleared (a skill which I then had to repeat later on at 40 feet below the surface); 2) My open water dive master Shanikah who tested my technical skills over the course of four ocean dives but also taught me about the amazing sea life we were seeing; and 3) A very special dive buddy on my last day of certification who reminded me that what I had just successfully finished WAS a big deal, and to celebrate that success. ?Teams and support networks matter – whether personally or professionally, we all need cheerleaders and coaches.

Lesson 3: Curiosity leads to unexpected and magical things.

There is incredible beauty in life and the world around us, including the creatures I saw in the ocean.?I learned that it’s the male sea horses who get pregnant and give birth.?I learned that once a sea turtle lays eggs on the beach, it’s the temperature of the sand that determines how many of the baby turtles will be male versus female.?I learned that stingrays have eyes on the top of their head so they can still see when they’re buried in the sand (and yes I saw a big one up close and personal!).?Keeping an open mind and asking sincere questions from a place of curiosity will uncover things you might not otherwise see or realize – both below and above the water’s surface.?????

Lesson 4: Say yes more than no.

Life is short and we all need to be reminded that with enough courage and determination, anything is possible.?The hardest part is taking that first step in the process – so dive in!?Over the last five years, I’ve taught myself to automatically say ‘yes’ more often, or at least give consideration to things that I previously might have discarded as ideas.?During my certification dives, I had ongoing problems with my mask leaking, clearing my ears as I descended 60 feet, and during the start of one dive, discovered I had a leak in my buoyancy control device (BCD).?The process might be messy, imperfect, or even scary and not without obstacles or challenges, but that just adds to the satisfaction and sense of accomplishment at the finish line.?

My dive journey is far from over and my next adventure this fall will be overseas.?But every day I will be practicing the key lessons diving has taught me thus far.?My favourite dive quote is from an unknown author, but I think well sums up my sentiment – “We dive not to escape life, but for life not to escape us”.