My First Boat Dive

Finally the day came after weeks of bad weather the water cleared up a bit enough for us to get a nice break and that i could finally finish my NAUI certification . So the day came October 28th 2011 at 7:30am the journey started. I anxiously loaded my gear on the boat tested the gear and soon i was off into open water. Their were several other divers on-board all were already certified, two 12yr old kids and the rest adults along with my dive instructor and a two other dive masters. It was fun and funny group of people and was an enjoyable ride . We finally reached the dive site after traveling for about an hour and then the adventure began. About around 9:30am we geared up and made are way to the aft of the boat where we tried to stand on the dive platform while the boat bobbed up and down with 2-4ft waves slosh us around. I dived in with a giant stride entry and splash into the vast ocean where 45ft of water lied below me,it was defiantly overwhelming at first. It was scary knowing theirs a wreck tug boat below that's just like engulfing . As i made my way to the anchor line and started my descent as soon as all the divers were situated around the anchor line and so the others and my instructor and I headed down slowly descending as i equalized my pressure in my head. As i reached about 30 feet i could see the tug boat come into view and it just awestruck me that i was doing this! I gasped and at first was breathing rapidly and lost alot more air in my tank than usual but i quickly reminded myself and tried to get myself calm. But i was using my arms and not inflating my BC so that kinda of agrivated the situation , but my instructor calmed me down and helped me out and everything was soon under control and calm. We then proceeded with the dive and on around the wreck as we looked in and out of holes. I could see life just appear as this once lil tug boat now lying at the bottom now turned into a living home for fish and coral life. I could feel the pressure of the depth as 45 ft read on my dive computer.The boat was so vast compared to me . The ominous feeling was quiet present as that was the only thing i could see that was around. I can say i did preferably like the next dive we did that day on a coral reef ledge about 20 minutes from our previous dive spot. So the boat captain turned us around and headed for the other dive spot. I caught my breath and prepared for the 2nd dive. This dive was the best out of that day. Going down this time was much more calming and serene.The coral reef ledge came alive as their was an abundance of fish just swarming overhead. Hundreds and hundreds of schools of fishes swam over my head filling my view. That was the moment were i was like wow I`m actually doing this , I`m diving underwater at 45 ft and just chilling and taking it all in. The experience was just so "the moment" .Their was just fish everyone , hiding in rocks and such. My dive instructor found a Goliath grouper that was quiet large hiding under a ledge as well as a nice size stone crab that could have been good eatin! It was such an amazing day and two great dives. Those were some of the best times of my life and a start for a new journey in my life.

I Darien Entwistle was certfied on 10/28/2011 as a NAUI open water diver and proud and i am glad to have started such an awesome acvitity that i can do for the rest of my life!

Dive on!