**UPDATE: Unfortunately, KCD has gone out of business after a long, successful run in Brooklyn. While there are many other places to learn how to dive in NYC, it’s very sad to see Mia and her business close. I wish her all the luck & much success in the next chapter of her scuba diving career and everyone who was involved with KCD. Mia was kind enough to give me some really good deals with extra gear, so now I own my own wetsuit! Thank you for everything & the great experiences, Mia!**
In my scuba lessons day 1 blog post, I mentioned that to get anything done, you just have to get up and do it. Today, I want to tell you one reason why choosing who you work through and what methods you take to go about doing it are so important.
The greatest scuba related fear I’ve faced so far was the fear to commit. Somehow, once I committed to getting scuba certified, all the other fears and concerns just dwindled down. Even when learning about all the different scuba-related injuries and symptoms that could occur if you don’t have the proper training and procedures down, I wasn’t as nervous as I thought I would have been. This is because I know I am in good hands with Kings County Divers and there is an established level of trust.
Today I descended into about 4 or 5 feet of water. Now, this doesn’t sound like much, but my ears could definitely feel the pressure. I had to learn the proper techniques to equalize my ears (adjusting them to the pressure) during this lesson. I wish I could say I was an expert at it. Clearly, I am not. I’ve always had issues with my ears on planes, but I was never sure if it was just an overreaction. My initial reaction to not being able to equalize my ears underwater, was that of dismay. What if it keeps me from finishing the course? Now this is a new fear I have to tackle.
However, upon further discussion with Mia and the other instructors, my worries were quickly calmed. A lot of people start out with this issue. My KCD instructors have confidence that, with practice and the next few lessons, I will be able to equalize. Mia even gave me some tips to warm up with for next week: practice equalizing my ears when I wake up in the morning, and when I go to bed at night each day. She said we will take a steady method to slowly practice and introduce my ears to the pressure and equalization.
Thankfully, this is why I have great instructors teaching me with all their scuba expertise and is why you should make sure that, when you pursue a personal endeavor of this magnitude, you have a great instructor who will tend to your needs.
If your endeavor just so happens to be scuba diving in Brooklyn, perhaps you can join me! Read about my 3rd lesson here!
Be Fierce!!
Briauna Mariah (: