The idea of learning to scuba dive had been floating around for some time. When Walt showed me photos of colorful sea life, coral reefs, and shipwrecks he’d taken on dives in the Caribbean, I got a little more curious. I even investigated what it would take to get PADI open water certification. I checked out a New Zealand and a Twin Cities dive shop for courses and learned that I could complete online learning at my own pace and do the initial training sessions in the dive shop pool. The date and location options for the open water dives didn’t seem very practical, so I set the idea aside. Learning to sail on the water felt like enough on my plate.
My hesitation wasn’t just about scheduling. I wasn’t sure if I genuinely wanted to do it, if I had enough stamina and agility (the age thing nagged at me), or if it was about stepping too far out of my swimming and snorkeling comfort zone.
Testing the Waters
Dive shops are plentiful in the Tuamotus, and I quickly learned that divers from all over the world come to Rangiroa scuba diving sites just to visit “The Aquarium” and explore the reef. Pictures of dolphins, sea turtles, and brightly colored reef fish abound, along with rumors of whale sightings. From our anchorage in the lagoon, I’d watch the dive boats—like clockwork—ferrying groups out to the sites. I kept thinking there must be something truly special down there, something beyond what I’d experienced snorkeling.
Left Behind (Until I Wasn’t)
So, what finally nudged me out of my resistance? In short, I let myself get left behind. We had guests aboard Wanderlust. They were a couple who, like Walt, were experienced divers, along with their two middle-school sons who were eager to try diving. I joined them at the dive shop and listened to the briefings, especially the kids’ Discovery Dive instruction for beginners. The dive master was engaging, thorough, and safety-focused, but I still didn’t bite. I was content snapping a few before-and-after photos.
Then, after the dive, came the chorus from the boys: “It was sooo awesome!” and “We saw…” with similar excitement from their parents and Walt. That flipped my perspective. I thought, if kids can do it, so can I.
Taking the Plunge
The next day I signed up with PADI, started online learning, and was paired with a very personable and knowledgeable trainer, Malika, who gave me in depth one-on-one briefings and equipment demos. My first two dives at “The Aquarium” focused on practicing key skills, and then I capped it all off with back-to-back dives out on the reef with Walt and my instructor. That’s where I completed and passed my open water certification in Rangiroa.
A Whole New World
I hope this is just the beginning of many more dives for Walt and me. He’s right when he says the underwater world is unlike anything else, maybe the closest you can get to the weightlessness of outer space. Once you start to get the hang of buoyancy (still a work in progress for me), you move with such gentle effort; the sound and sight of your bubbles become close companions. No aquarium visit (and I’ve been to the Shedd in Chicago and the National Aquarium in Baltimore) can match the experience of seeing the sea life of French Polynesia in its own habitat. There are endless colors, shapes, and sizes moving in schools, pairs, or solo, against the backdrop of both living and endangered coral.
It leaves me with nothing but awe and gratitude.