How I Conquered my Fear and Explored the Underwater World: My First Scuba Diving Experience

Jun 24, 2025
7 min read

Updated: Jul 8, 2025

Adventure is at the heart of my marriage. Instead of going on little unmeaningful dates, every year, my husband and I make it a point to try something new together; sometimes, that something pushes us (mainly me) out of our comfort zones. We’ve gone Parasailing, adopted the Paramotoring lifestyle, gone skydiving (AFF), paddle boarding, got a boat, a jet ski, went go-karting, grown medicinal mushrooms, started making beer and wine, restored tractors, campers, boats, and houses, and obtained our CCW, motorcycle, and boating licenses. This year, we decided to get scuba diving certified.

As someone who has always been a little nervous about water, the thought of diving into the depths of the ocean or anything for that matter, stirred both excitement and fear within me. My journey into the underwater world started not just with thrill but with a fair share of anxiety. However, I was determined to conquer my fears and experience the breathtaking (no pun intended) beauty that lay below the surface.

Preparing for the Dive

Before we could dive in, we knew proper preparation was essential. We signed up for a PADI scuba diving certification course that combined online, in-class learning, and hands-on training. This course lasted a few weeks, featuring around 15 hours of classroom instruction and 2 days of practice sessions in the pool. After we completed those, we were able to sign up for the open water quarry weekend. This consisted of 4 different dives during a weekend. (2 dives each day)

During the class, I learned crucial information about the equipment. (a list of the equipment is at the end) From masks that help you see clearly underwater to wetsuits that keep you warm, (which in my case only helped a little and I still froze) Understanding how everything worked was vital. I discovered that the proper fitting of my mask was essential, as a secure seal prevents water from leaking in. (you'll learn why this is important later) My instructor also emphasized safety; knowing the dive tables and how to manage buoyancy, proper fitting BCDs, fins, and other important gear and why it matters. He was very good.

In the pool, I faced various challenges that seemed overwhelming at first. My buoyancy was all over the place, and I had trouble keeping trim. The initial time I submerged my head in the water made my heart race. For me, getting accustomed to breathing underwater wasn't a big deal, but as we learned different entering techniques, my fear heightened. One technique was called the wide stride. My fear of stepping off of things was a struggle. My anxiety was high, and it took me a little bit to step off and go into the water.

By repeating the skills like steady breathing from my regulator and equalizing my ears, I grew more confident with each session. Eventually, what once felt intimidating transformed into excitement for what lay ahead.

The Moment of Truth

Finally, the first day of our quarry dive arrived. We chose to dive with our instructor, as he was very patient, knowledgeable, and kind. The other students that were in our class decided to go to Florida as the water temperature would be much warmer there. Not a bad choice as I will soon find out. lol

As we suited up beside the entrance of White Star quarry, quickly realizing how hard it was to get those suits on. We all struggled and wiggled into these very tight suits sweating as we finally got the zipper up and got our boots, hoods, gloves and tank setup on our backs. Our instructor led us through a buddy check to ensure everything was functioning optimally. This aspect of teamwork eased my nervousness. My husband and I prepared our gear, and I took deep breaths, focusing on the lessons I had learned. Rob, our instructor briefed everyone on what the day would consist of. Our first dive was basically to get us back into the water and get familiar again since our last pool session had been a few months. So this was good.

DIVES 1 & 2

As we reached the edge of the water I felt like maybe my wetsuit would in fact keep me warm, but as we swam further to our dive site, I quickly learned this was a problem. The quarry's cold atmosphere heightened my emotions as we sank to the platform to show a few of our skills. one by one each of us showed Rob the skills he wanted us to perform. The lack of visibility left a jittery feeling in my stomach. You could only see about 5 feet In front of you. However, the blue gill and trout swimming next to me eased my anxiety and reminded me of how alive I felt during adventures.

White star quarry

Exploring the Underwater World

After a few skills, we were off to explore the underwater museum. Sunken ships, equipment, and various objects littered the bottom.

Photos taken off White star Quarry Website as we were not allowed to take cameras during training.

Swimming effortlessly underwater allowed me to feel free in a way I had never experienced. The peace of the underwater silence, punctuated only by the rhythm of my breathing, made this alien landscape even more captivating.

As I glided through schools of shimmering fish and examined the intricate patterns of the marine life, a wave of joy washed over me. I realized how much I had limited myself in the past. Each tranquil moment deepened my appreciation for this underwater paradise.

After we ascended to the top of the surface to end the dive, we slowly made it back to shore. Getting out of the water was interesting as gravity is VERY REAL. From swimming with all the equipment on being completely weightless, to feeling every bit of the weight all at once was off putting. But we managed.

We reached our spot to ungear and fill out our dive logs to get a stamp of approval from Robb.

DIVES 3 & 4

The next day we navigated with compasses on land and then in water. This was a CHALLENGE for me. I quickly learned I wasn't using my compass straight and therefore kept getting lost. I finally got to my destination and passed that skill. Next was the mask removal. Remember what I mentioned earlier? Having a hood on was quite different than when we did the skill in the pool. In the pool I had no issues, but in the quarry, MUCH DIFFERENT. My hood prevented my mask from sealing when I completely removed it and put it back on. This prevented me from completely clearing my mask. It kept filling with water even after breathing out to fully clear it. Even after attempting several times. Unfortunately, I breathed in a bunch of water and as much as I would like to say I kept calm, I no longer could breathe with my regulator and signaled to Robb to go up. I was fine after we surfaced. I waited for the other students to do their skill and their controlled ascent to the surface. After waiting for everyone to surface he told me we would redo my mask on the last dive and took me down to do my controlled ascent skill.

After we all did our skills, we explored some more. Finding the submerged playground was awesome! We played some there and I even made a basket with a bowling ball!

(That was really cool, and it actually had some weight behind it) We kept swimming alongside the quarry rock wall. All the fish were hiding out in the coves and just watched as we passed. We seen a cemetery, an air dome, a sunken ship, a Katana, and some other really cool things. Unfortunately, I lost buoyancy, and everyone had to come to the surface early.

Photos taken off White star Quarry, as we weren't allowed to have cameras during training

We headed to shallow water to do our BCD removal and weight belt recovery skills. After everyone did their skills, Robb took me back down to do my mask removal again. Same thing happened but I was able to get it cleared long enough to pass.

We all headed to the shore to get our equipment off, fill out our dive logs and fill out the proper paper to get certified.

Now the fun part Begins as we get more dives under our belts and work on perfecting our skills. OH, and we have already booked a scuba trip to Cozumel Mexico with our friends!!!!!

Overcoming My Fears

The dive weekend felt brief, but the memory left a lasting impression. I began my journey with anxiety, but I surfaced exhilarated and more self-assured than ever before. Even though I need to work on some things, I feel good about diving now.

The beauty of scuba diving lies not just in the stunning visuals; it’s about-facing fears and embracing the unknown. For someone like me, who had always hesitated around deep water, overcoming this fear became one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. In fact, according to a survey by PADI, approximately 70% of new divers report a significant boost in self-confidence after their first dive.

Back on land, I celebrated with my husband, reflecting on our adventure. The experience not only deepened our connection but also added a new layer of excitement to our relationship.

Reflecting on New Beginnings

Scuba diving opened my eyes to a world I never knew existed. It taught me that fear can limit us, but confronting it directly leads to remarkable discoveries—not only about the ocean but also about ourselves.

If you are considering scuba diving, give it a shot! It may seem daunting, but with proper training and support, you’ll find the water is a welcoming space. Remember, beneath the surface lies immense beauty, and conquering your fears can lead to a lasting love for the underwater world.

So whether you’re an adventure seeker or simply searching for something fresh, take the plunge. You won't just explore the ocean's depths; you'll also uncover your own courage.

Here’s to making unforgettable memories and diving deep into life's adventures!

Here is a list of the gear you can find online. Please do your research and get what you feel is a good fit for you.

Mask (after you get properly fitted or buy at local dive shop)

Snorkel (definitely get one with anti-water flow back valve)

Fins (after you get properly fitted or buy at local dive shop; split fins are for not-so-great swimmers)

Boots

Hood

Gloves

Wetsuit I have this one in 7mm

Weights and weight belt or side mount weights (for my BCD I have side integrated weight pockets)

NOTE: If you have a 7mm wetsuit, start with 10% of your body weight for the weights and add more if needed.

Watch, computer or console