So, how does a non-swimmer take a scuba diving course? Well, it takes chutzpa doesn’t it?
It happened this way:
I actually wanted to be better able to snorkel. We had been snorkeling before, and though the underwater seascape was compellingly beautiful, my mask kept leaking, my hair got in my eyes, and then the mask fogged up—so there was a lot of stop-and- start to this enterprise.
I wanted things to go more smoothly. So on the underwater nature shows, those divers did not seem to have any of the problems I was experiencing, so I thought, I would be able to be more fluid with my snorkeling if I had some of the skills taught in a scuba diving course.
So, I never really wanted to scuba dive: I just wanted to have more fun snorkeling. However they do not—or did not then—teach snorkeling 101. So I figured I would learn what I needed to know in the scuba class.
I would learn to use the mask and regulator etc. so I could really have fun snorkeling.
That was really my idea. I never intended to do any diving—certainly, I never intended to dive backwards off the side of a boat.
Diving became an issue, but not at first. The course had 6 sessions. Three of the first four lessons were a piece of cake.
In order to qualify to take this course there was a minimal proficiency that you had to demonstrate in swimming. I knew that.
Before lesson one was the swimming test. I was a little worried about that-- because at the time, I could not swim.
I didn’t really figure I would actually need to know how to swim since the scuba equipment causes you to float and I would have the oxygen thing in my mouth so I could breathe and the mask so I could see. And you do most of this stuff on the surface of the water anyway, right? So, other than being found out as a non-swimmer, I was not really worried.
We are waiting around for the swim test. He says “Get in the water”. We all do.
Then he says, “Okay you all pass!”
I realize now, that he must have figured this way: no one would be here to take scuba lessons that could not swim so this swim test thing is just a formality. He had not counted on me, of course.
When I realized I was not going to be outed as a non-swimmer—when he had pronounced that I along with the whole class had “passed the swimming proficiency test”, I felt pleased and relieved. Surely if I really needed to know how to swim he would have tested and screened me and I would have been eliminated, right? That confirmed for me that I was right; I really did not need to know how to swim to take the diving course. Such was my tortured “logic” at the time.
The sessions begin and we learn all kinds of cool stuff—clearing your mask, de-fogging your mask, breathing through your nose – or is it your mouth?—this was a while ago. But I remember feeling pretty good about all the things we learned and practiced—in the shallow end of the pool—five feet of water. I am 5’6’’. No sweat!
Then came lesson four. I had not been pre-warmed about this: diving.
While it felt like diving to me—in fact it actually felt like diving from a 100 foot platform into a teacup!—it was really only jumping into the water something swimmers do all the time and something non-swimmers like me do not do all that much.
Not only was it jumping into the water, it was into a part of the pool I had not paid attention to until that time--- until he said that the water we were jumping into was 24 feet deep!
I might have been able to do it if he had not said how deep the water was.
Of course, I was now afraid since I had deceived him into letting me take this course, allowed him to assume I knew how to swim. Maybe my chickens were coming home to roost!
I believe in retribution. It would be some sort of justice if, since I lied my way into this deep water deal, if I had some sort of untoward result.
Gulp! (Oh, goodness, please God don’t let that gulp be water!)
We all lined up along the side of the 24 foot deep pool—I don’t know where he had been keeping this pool because I swear I only saw the 5 foot pool before. But we line up.
And all the brave souls when they arrived at the front of the line, and he called on them to jump in the water. They jumped.
I was at the back of the line. As each one jumped, my heart beat louder in my ears.
My regret at having lied about knowing how to swim increased with my rising blood pressure.
At last, there was no one left on the side of the 24 feet of water-- except me. They were all in the water looking up at me.
“It’s your turn. “ (I don’t want a turn. Next lesson.)
“Go ahead.” (Do I have to? I’d really rather not.)
“You can do it.” (That is what you think!)
“It’s your turn. “ (I’m okay here. Can I wait for the next part?)
“We’re waiting on you.” (Yes, I get that—could you just disappear? Could I just disappear?)
I was not quite paralyzed-- but I wished I were: that way I would not have to jump into that water! I prayed. Beads of sweat formed on my forehead. My mouth was dry. And they kept calling on me to jump.
Eys was in the water. “Come on Sweetheart,” he said, “You can do it.”
I do not know if I was talking or giving excuses or just looking at them like I wished to be anywhere except here on this ledge standing over 24 feet of water. Time seemed to stand still.
The water was still in front of me, with only a few inches of concrete separating me from life on the edge of the pool-- and the uncertain future for me if I jumped into 24 feet of water knowing full well I could not swim.
So, what happened? What do you think?
Do you think I wisely said,” Look I am here as an imposter and I think I’ll just go on home and you keep the money for the other two lessons?”
This was the most scared I had ever been—of anything-- in my life-- absolutely white- knuckle- terrified. My heart beat so hard I swear it felt as if it would pound right out of my chest.
I did not actually have to jump—I had to step off, into space, over the 24 feet of water. I prayed. I promised God… and I stepped off—
The water was there! I did not go straight to the bottom as I had feared.
I clenched my teeth tightly around the regulator in my mouth. I held on for dear life—it is a wonder I did not bite clear through it!
I made it off that ledge and into the water. Everyone (else) was very happy and they congratulated me.
I was tremendously relieved! I was crying I was so grateful to be still alive—and not exposed as a non-swimming imposter. I had promised God if He let me live – I would leave that scuba class and never return.
So far I have kept that promise.
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