Below The Surface

To me, it just felt like I was spending time with like-minded people. But then, someone new to the sport pointed out, “When you’re with scuba divers, you notice they’re all very calm and not easily rattled. They’re kind of the best people to be in a stressful situation with.”

I’ve been diving for over 10 years. It took me five of those to realize just how much it had reshaped the way I approach everyday life. Some people even get irritated when my response to their crises is nonchalant—not to minimize their stress, but when you regularly challenge yourself in a sport that has claimed people far more talented than you, perspective becomes inherent. Once you start practicing skills and habits meant to keep you safe—or at the very least, alive—in a foreign environment, you realize they apply to the rest of your life too, not just the moments spent underwater.

As a PADI Divemaster and PADI Freediver, assisting with classes and traveling to several countries to dive, I’ve practiced emergency response, task loading, crisis management, life support equipment maintenance, navigation, meditation, breathing exercises—along with patience, prudence, and vigilance. When I started, I just thought it would be cool to see some fish and breathe underwater.

I was right.