That First Breath: How One Dive Changed Everything

How my scuba journey started & why I fell in love with scuba diving

I started scuba diving when I was 23, and it all started with the idea of trying something new. I held the belief I was terrible at sports, but being in the water was probably the only place I didn’t feel too clumsy and uncoordinated, so it sounded logical to me to try to explore all water options. I used to swim at the time, so scuba diving sounded like something that could fit nicely – little did I know it had nothing to do with swimming! I just had that inner feeling I had to try scuba diving out.

And from the moment I got my equipment on my back, the only thing I remember is the go-ahead, breathing for the first time underwater and… staring at my instructor! I was the only one diving with Pavel, and I remember him holding me from time to time by my cylinder and checking that I was ok. The water was murky (Black Sea at the end of the day) and visibility was terrible – I can’t even remember what we saw or what we didn’t.

What I remember is the sudden internal feeling of freedom coupled with an absolutely overwhelming feeling of trust. I knew I had no idea what I was doing, and had anything gone wrong, my life was depending on the skills of my instructor. Might sound a bit dramatic and hero-y, but this was actually what had drawn me into diving. The feeling of shared experience, bonding, and trust.

I knew that person for less than an hour, and I felt I knew him for years. He was looking me in the eyes, and the eyes under his mask were showing me he was really enjoying my excitement. I don’t remember having problems with the mask, regulator, or any panic – just a total feeling of serenity and trust… and a bit of murky water haha. The dive lasted 30 minutes, but I kept diving for a while longer in my head.

That first dive planted a seed. I knew I had to experience this magic again, and I was already planning my Open Water certification before I even surfaced…