PADI Open Water Course
- Chris Dailey
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
My diving journey began in July 2025, when I took the PADI Open Water Certification course at Dean's Dive Center in Ft. Myers, Florida.
I chose Dean's Dive Center for my class by researching online and reading reviews. Afterward, I visited the shop and spoke with the instructors who would be teaching me. This step is crucial: meet your instructors and ask questions. Like many new to diving, I had numerous questions and felt a bit nervous. While there's plenty of useful information available online and on YouTube, there's also misleading content that can cause unnecessary anxiety. Therefore, it's important to conduct thorough research and select a dive shop and instructors you feel comfortable with and trust.
I thoroughly enjoyed my class and would like to share my experiences, both positive and negative. The classroom and pool sessions went smoothly, and I felt confident yet nervous about my checkout dives. As a new diver, I was unsure of what to expect in the ocean. Would I encounter sharks? Would the currents be unusual and separate me from my dive buddy and classmates? Would I get seasick on the boat and feel embarrassed? You get the idea. Once I entered the water, my blood pressure rose along with my breathing rate. I tried to descend by releasing air from my BCD and managed to get about 8 to 10 feet down but couldn't continue descending. I started thinking I didn't have enough weight. At 10 feet down, being moved by the current, I felt my stomach becoming queasy and began to panic a bit. So, I inflated my BCD and returned to the surface to regain my composure.
Fortunately, my Dive Master, Logan Lee, noticed me surface and came to check on me. This is where I learned a crucial skill that I now use before descending on any dive. I explained to Logan that I was really anxious and my breathing was irregular. While floating on the surface Logan explained to me the concept of box breathing. For those who don't know, box breathing, also known as square breathing, is a technique used to reduce stress, slow your breathing, and help calm yourself. Link to Video
The four steps:
Inhale: Gently and deeply breathe in through your nose for a count of four, allowing your belly and lungs to expand.
Hold: Pause your breath for a count of four.
Exhale: Gradually and steadily breathe out through your mouth for a count of four.
Hold (Empty): Keep your breath held with your lungs empty for a count of four before inhaling again.
After about 2 to 3 minutes of box breathing, I felt calm and normal enough to attempt descending again. This time, I was relaxed and able to enjoy the experience. As I descended towards the first wreck, "The SS Copenhagen," I finally experienced the excitement and joy that would make me passionate about scuba diving.
We explored the Labontee Reef, the Ancient Mariner Wreck, and the Horseshoe reef that weekend. It was one of the most incredible experiences of my life. Swimming on the Ancient Mariner truly sparked my interest in exploring wreck diving further.
I want to express my deepest gratitude to my dive instructor Dean, my Dive Master Logan, and Dean's Dive Center for helping me take my first steps into the world of scuba diving. I am extremely excited about what lies ahead.
