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At the risk of sounding religious, I'm beginning to suspect that scuba diving is going to be a major transformative experience for me.
This trip to Grand Cayman for my certification was the first vacation I've been on where I actually was sad to be coming home. For so many reasons:
The physical exertion of diving was great for my physical health.
Being around so many healthy and happy people day-in and day-out felt great, in a way I can't explain.
Even though the Sunset House was not luxurious, it really did feel like paradise. Perhaps I need to re-evaluate what luxury means to me.
Interacting with people who have an interest in diving, discussing techniques, good dive sites, etc. Wow, I can't explain that one either.
Learning a new skill (diving) is such a rewarding endeavor. You feel such a sense of accomplishment--and that sense of accomplishment comes with every single dive! You fill out your log book, get the dive shop to stamp it. Even if you didn't learn any new skills on your dive, you've added one new dive site to your repertoire!
In my daily life, I have a huge problem with the number of sour-pusses out there. You smile and say hello, and they glare at you. Well, at a resort, you only come in contact with 2 kinds of people: People who paid a lot of money to be happy, and people who are being paid to make sure that you have a good time. So nobody has any vested interested in being a sour-puss!
In my usual daily life, I focus a lot on food. Going out to a nice restaurant is my reward for a hard day's work. But in Grand Cayman, I wasn't focused on food at all. Sitting in the cabana overlooking the water, I was strangely content with a fruit smoothie or glass of OJ.
Getting on the dive boat, seeing the DM's arrange the equipment and the tanks in an orderly fashion, listening to the dive plan before each dive-- all that stuff is really cool. Everybody takes it all so seriously (and rightly so, of course) that you have this sense of importance associated with every dive.
The new acquaintances I made during my dive trip feel like more than just acquaintances. Perhaps it's because we share a love of diving, I don't know. People don't usually make a big impression on me, but I remember all the names of all the people I met on this trip.
I was just more alive during this trip than I've been in years. And it feels wonderful.
Hm, I wonder if they need doctors in the Caribbean...
I just finished reading your thread about your 1st attempt at Certification, A lot can change when you have a good experience. Congratulations. The saying is very true...you are just getting your feet wet. It gets even better
It's awesome when you find great food and great diving together...it's out there, mostly it's the fun of searching for these two things combined that pushes along my dive travel
Love your post and the compendium of reasons and impressions you gave!
For me scuba became a transformative experience rather unexpectedly, and somewhat late in life! I actually have taken an early retirement from my previous professional field, in which I had attained a significant measure of success, to become a lowly scuba instructor!
Want to open a clinic with me in the Mexican Riviera?
Diving's been a wonderful experience for me. In addition to getting me out and into a novel environment, it's been a sport where I've found all kinds of things to continue learning. From reading up on decompression theory to learning to use a camera, there doesn't seem to be an end to new things to expand one's understanding and enjoyment. It makes diving a very addictive activity!
I actually have taken an early retirement from my previous professional field, in which I had attained a significant measure of success, to become a lowly scuba instructor!
I loved Matt's post, except for the title. Can Scuba be a hobby? As pointed out in the actual text of his post, for most of us, even with other jobs or careers, scuba is a way of life. "A transformative experience" is the perfect description. I was a 45 year old lawyer who rarely took a day off, and then encountered scuba. Thirteen years and 35 dive trips later, plus hundreds of local dives, I am indeed transformed. Thanks for your clear and thoughtful post. No one could have said it better!
DivemasterDennis
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Originally Posted by TSandM
