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Thursday 6.30pm

It is one month to the evening since I began training to scuba dive! I’m back at the pool side with Eileen, and we are about to finish off confined water 4 and 5. I feel calm and collected…?! On the cards tonight is the hover; I imagine Tom Cruise at the end of his line, but it doesn’t quite work out like that…

Heather is also going for her open water 3 and 4 on Sunday, and we are to do most of the skills together this evening.

We enter the pool with a giant stride. My mask is less tight, because I’ve been wearing a hood. (I leave it as is, in the hope that I have less of a mark on my face when we finish.) Making sure I hold the mask firmly as I hit the water, it remains in place and no water is leaking in… cool. We buddy up for a 5 point descent and all is well. I have to remember: part of ‘sorted’ is to elevate and equalise.

I’ve struggled a little with buoyancy this evening. Even with my BCD empty of air, my body wants to float and it’s difficult keeping both knees on the tiles. We watch Eileen do the hover, and then it’s my turn. In my attempt I turn turtle and hover upside down. Feet in the air and totally un-Cruise like; what is going on?! I can just see myself – what a picture! Hover complete and finally into an upright position (with help), I kneel on the bottom.

Eileen demonstrates the BCD removal and replace. This doesn’t go much better! Without the extra weight on my back, the feet and backside want to take flight. On the second time around, Steve has to practically sit on my feet to keep me down. I complete the skill with no further problem, and I actually enjoy it! Flippin heck, did I ever believe I would hear that coming out of my fingers???!!!

We make a 5 point ascent and watch Eileen removing and replacing the BCD on the surface. I pass this skill with ease and enjoy it. I’m not so lucky with the weight belt. I can’t roll myself over for the life of me. Thinking back, I probably had too much air on board – but I get there in the end, hovering just under the surface to fasten it.

We have a briefing on the CESA, which is basically a controlled emergency swimming ascent, but lengthways in the pool. 9 metres works out at just over half way.

“A word of advice; rather than making an aaaaaaaa sound” – I’ve been concerned about this, as I lose air too quickly – Eileen suggests that I “make it eeeeeeeeee”. I try it on the surface, and she is right! We descend and I breathe in and out three times. The last breath goes in, and I eeeee out with both arms outstretched. In my left hand is the buoyancy control device, with a low-pressure inflator. My right hand is ready for potential obstacles. I could go further than 9 metres, which fills me with confidence for the sea ascent on Sunday. I do a second CESA back to the deep end, and the skill is passed well.

I have actually enjoyed the whole evening. I felt as comfortable at the bottom of the pool as I do on dry land, which is incredible.

Hats off to each of the instructors that have helped me along the way. They are top dollar!

Friday.

I’ve just been over to the castle jetty, and I’ve not seen the water looking like that before; there’s chop in every which way direction. Don’t think I’ll go in…