Breathtaking Experiences You Have When Learning to Dive

Learning to dive is an incredible experience, and most divers never forget it. Not only is it both challenging and rewarding at the same time, it can also leave you completely breathless. When learning to dive on your PADI Open Water Diver course there are some experiences that completely take your breath away. The list can go on and on, and below I have picked out a few that are worth mentioning.

Disclaimer: You should never *actually* hold your breath while diving. ‘Breathtaking’ in this sense is simply metaphorical.

Your first breath underwater

This may seem like a bit of a cliché, but the first time you take a breath and are able to relax under water is an experience like no other. There is no way to explain it, because there is literally no other feeling in the world that can compare. Being able to enjoy the serenity you find under the surface without stopping back up for air is absolutely fantastic.

When you first master your buoyancy

Buoyancy can take you several dives to completely master. Put simply, your buoyancy is what makes you weightless in the water, and this feeling (I believe) can only ever be experienced in outer space. The first time my instructor didn’t have to help me find my buoyancy at the safety stop, I felt absolutely exhilarated. I now love floating around weightless just as much as I love exploring the underwater world.

Seeing that special creature

We all have that one ocean creature that fascinates us, whether it’s a turtle, a shark or a manta ray. For me, it was (and still is) the lionfish, with it’s beautiful stripes and venomous spines. The first time I saw one I’ll admit I panicked a little, but quickly managed to find my cool so I could simply admire the creature. It is a moment I’ll never forget!

Overcoming an obstacle

During your studying, quizzes and open water dives, your instructor prepares you to be a safe diver. By the time you are a PADI certified diver you will be able to handle most obstacles you could come across as a diver, and the first time you realise this is the best feeling in the world!