A couple of my friends have been out of town for the last week or so, meaning I've been more focused on work as I have fewer distractions. (i.e. opportunities to have fun) That is all for the best, actually, as I've been assigned a more complicated project than usual so I can't glide through my work with the ease that I'm used to. On the one hand, it's maddening to having a project take so long, on the other, it is a refreshing challenge.
This weekend was a dive weekend. On Saturday Zac and I decided to try our hands at diving by ourselves, without our usual cohorts. We decided to hit up our most comfortable diving location to compensate for the lack of additional people. We knew that the surf forecast called for some waves, but we decided to get a tank each and head out to see what it looked like anyhow. Once we got there we saw that there was, indeed, some decent waves hitting the shore. Our entry point had even more wave action, due to the way the beach area is confined by a concrete wall on one side and a rock formation on the other. The channel magnifies the waves as they roll in. Past the shore break it didn't look too bad, however.
We asked some divers who were finished with their dives what they thought of the conditions. They all expressed some level of concern about being tossed around either out at the dive sight on on the way in. Zac and I decided that the only way you get better at diving in more difficult conditions is to give it a shot. If it didn't work, we'd just come back in and chalk it up as a lesson learned.
Well, it went . . . [and the award for Understatement of the Year goes to me] . . . poorly. Once I waded into the water I managed to get my fins on quickly, but I couldn't see anything underwater. The surf was crashing so violently that the water was nothing but tiny little air bubbles, impairing my ability to know which way was up and where Zac was. I pulled my head up out of the water to try and find Zac and saw that he was only a couple of feet away from me. Then I got smacked by a wave. It dislodged my mask. I panicked a little and tried to bob on the surface to clear it, but another wave rolled right in, knocking it clear off. That's when I sucked in a bunch of water through my nose, causing me to start coughing uncontrollably. (Remember, this didn't go well the last time that happened.)
I managed to get Zac's attention, but I had to keep closing my eyes each time another wave pummeled me. Not being able to see is frustrating, especially knowing that I was not too far from the aforementioned concrete wall. I knew that I needed to get out before I got tossed into the wall, cracking my head or breaking a rib. I wasn't doing well. I was panicked. I couldn't breath very well and could only take short, shallow breaths because I could never cough enough. I hollered at Zac, "I need to go in. I need your help." Sure enough, my Knight in Shining Armor grabbed my BCD and helped get me to shore. I had to crawl up the sand because I had spent all my energy trying to stay above the waves. Trying not to drown is physically taxing work.
I wanted to throw up, because all I could taste was salt, but I didn't. Zac helped me get me and my gear up to the fresh water showers so I rinse off. I sat under the water, trying to catch my breath, trying to calm down. It was a pretty terrible experience. Probably worse than the last time with Caz, because at least there I knew that it was just a straight shot to the surface. This time I was at the mercy of the waves. I was upset at myself for freaking out again, and upset that we decided to try it when we probably should have known better.
We decided to go back out on Sunday for a two tank dive with Ken, up at our second most familiar dive site. Luckily it was F-L-A-T, flat. The first dive wasn't too interesting, which was okay as I just wanted to get back on that horse of diving. Our second dive rocked. We saw about 8-10 turtles and two decent sized Whitemouth Moray Eels. Usually eels just hang out in their nooks and crevasses, but this day one of the eels decided to get out and swim away. That was cool, and a little creepy. Eels are just not cuddly. It's amazing to watch how they move in the water, but they're just not as endearing as boxfish.
I also got to practice my navigation skills, which was fun. Ken and Zac both have compasses with their gear. The rental gear I get each time does not. Ken offered to lend me his compass for the two dives so I could practice being the leader for the first time. I managed to get the three of us out to the dive site and back again with no issues. Up til now I've always had to follow someone else who knew the way. It was rather empowering to be in front. (Also, it meant I could set the pace which is nice when I'm not the fastest swimmer in the bunch.) I think I might have to get a compass of my own, and I also need a flashlight since we're going to go diving with Manta Rays on the Big Island in four weeks!
All in all, it was a good weekend. Now I have to go out and buy another mask and snorkel because the ocean claimed mine on Saturday. Not only am I upset that I have to dish out the cash for a new one when the other one was only two months old, but I'm upset that I littered in the ocean. I really hope that some other diver out there found it and either kept it, or at least took it out of the ocean and threw it in the garbage if they didn't want it. When we were diving a couple of weeks ago I saw a snorkel lying on the ocean floor and I picked it up. Hopefully, likewise, someone will be able to clean up after me. The last thing I want is the Ocean ticked off at me for being a litter bug.
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