With my Jamaica trip just around the corner, my husband encouraged me to take an ‘learn to scuba dive’ class with Northwest Scuba located here in Edmonton.

Although hesitant at first, I felt secure getting a chance to try breathing underwater in a safe indoor pool setting. So we went to class, learned some scuba basics and then the group headed to the pool.

Although it takes a few minutes to get the class properly outfitted with fins, masks, weight belts, BCD vests, tanks & regulators, it’s not long until we’re all in the water…and you quickly realize that the heavy gear, really does feel weightless in the water.

The very first thing you’ll learn – never stop breathing! And although that sounds like common sense, it takes the body and mind a few minutes to make a switch to feeling okay breathing underwater, it’s just not instinct at first.

First you learn the important steps in putting on your mask, so that you can have a clear view underwater. We learned some important sign language for communicating underwater. Then you learn how to inflate and deflate your BCD vest. Next it’s how the regulator works…and with that we all head underwater! Of course, I didn’t sink at first…I needed a couple more weights added to my vest and I was able to join the group underwater.

{ sorry, no photos of me and my mask face underwater LOL | credit : Juan Velasquez }

For me, it took me a little bit to feel comfortable underwater, knowing that I can always get air when I need it, and most importantly, trying to train my brain not to hold my breathe, but in no time we were headed to the deep end of the pool and swimming underwater.

Learning the important ways to descend and ascend, how to clear your mask, how to purge your regulator and how to remove your regulator and breathe (if you ever had to tandem use a regulator) were other important skills we learned.

And if nothing else, I’m a little more excited to head to the tropics and snorkel, and will be looking forward to putting in the work to obtain my open water dive certification.

If you’re planning a trip to somewhere with crystal clear waters and colorful fish and coral – then I strongly encourage you take the intro to scuba course or intro to snorkeling course offered by Northwest Scuba. My scuba intro class was $35 and really, this is something everyone should try at some time in their lifetime!

Thanks to our instructor Andrew and the rest of their staff that assisted all of us last week – they ensured we were safe, felt secure and that all of us left looking forward to our next dive opportunity!