100 Scuba Dives

I’ve just completed my 100th scuba dive! I got into scuba four years ago on a trip to Cuba and I’ve been lucky enough to explore the underwater world in some fantastic places since. Learning to dive was a big challenge for me. I’ve always felt a little uneasy around water, having grown up in a landlocked city where the only lakes and rivers are freezing cold. I remember how nervous I was the first time I strapped on all that complicated scuba gear and sunk below the surface of the water. Something inside of you yells out “but I can’t breathe under water!”. It’s a real leap of faith to suppress that sense of panic. Once I started to overcome it, I began to love diving. There’s a real sense of freedom that comes with floating weightlessly. The marine world is so vibrant and distinct from what we see in our everyday lives.

The Indonesian island of Nusa Lembongan, just an hour from Bali, is a great place to celebrate my 100th dive. The weather is tropical, palm trees and mangroves mix with sandy beaches, the people are very friendly, and you can find some tasty food. I have two weeks here to soak up the relaxed pace of life and do lots of diving.

The diving is also enjoyable and diverse. Maybe I was just lucky but Blue Corner Divers happened to be going to the famous Manta Point the morning of my 100th dive. Seeing huge mantas soar through the water is special on its own. Getting to have that experience for your 100th dive is just fantastic!

Reaching 100 dives is a big milestone for me. I’ve gone from feeling uncomfortable around water to loving the feeling of floating freely. Every time I dive now, I’m excited to enter a whole new world and to discover what creatures might be waiting there. Here’s to the next 100 dives.