Okay, so I’ve always wanted to try diving, and Puget Sound seemed like the perfect, albeit chilly, place to start. I finally took the plunge, literally, this past weekend. Here’s how it went down.
Gearing Up
First things first, I needed to find a dive shop. I did a quick search, asked around and found a place with good, no-nonsense reviews. I booked their intro session, and my excited was real. It was a bit of back and forth, but finally the diving slot was confirmed!
Showing up at the shop, I was immediately greeted by a mountain of wetsuits. The instructor, a super chill dude named, like, Mark or something, helped me squeeze into one. Let me tell you, getting into a wetsuit is a workout in itself! It was TIGHT. I felt like a sausage.
The Basics
After the wetsuit struggle, we went over the basics. Things like how to equalize pressure in my ears (super important, apparently), how to use the regulator (the thing you breathe through), and some basic hand signals. It was a lot to take in, I was nervous, but Mark/Mike was a good explainer, the knowledge get into my head quick!
He made it all seem pretty straightforward, although I was still a bit nervous about breathing underwater. It just feels… unnatural, you know?
Taking the Plunge
Next, we headed to the Sound. The water was, predictably, COLD. Even with the wetsuit, that initial shock was something else. But once I got my face in the water and started breathing through the regulator, a whole new world opened up.
- Visibility: It wasn’t crystal clear, but I could see enough to be amazed.
- Sea Life: We saw some starfish, crabs scuttling along the bottom, and even a few small fish. It was way cooler than I expected!
- The Feeling: It’s hard to describe, but being weightless and breathing underwater is just incredible. It’s peaceful and exciting all at the same time.
The Deep End (Not Really)
We didn’t go super deep, maybe 20 or 25 feet. But even at that depth, it felt like another planet. The pressure was definitely noticeable, and I had to keep reminding myself to equalize. I kept giving the “okay” sign to the instructor, probably more than I needed to, just to reassure myself as much as him.
Back on Dry Land
After about 30 minutes, we surfaced. Getting out of the water was another struggle – wetsuits are even harder to get off when they’re wet! But I was buzzing. I’d actually done it! I’d gone diving in Puget Sound.
Would I do it again? Absolutely! It was an amazing experience, and I can’t wait to explore more of the underwater world. Next time, maybe I’ll even be brave enough to try a drysuit…
