Brad became SCUBA Instructor certified
in Utah.
Crazy, I know. I couldn't understand the draw to diving.
I was with him at Bear Lake once, and another time
at Blue Lake by Wendover.
I could barely see my hand in front of my face under those waters.
what's so cool about diving????
So when we moved to Guam for Brad to start his career in Marine Tourism
I was happy for him - but honestly, it held no interest for me.
Trevor was 5 and Brooke an infant.
We enjoyed walks on the beach and swimming in the complex's kiddie pool.
Diving was left to Brad.
Finally, 10 months after moving to Guam, Brad decided it was time for me to dive.
Previous to that time I'd stuck my head in the ocean with a snorkeling mask.
Beautiful! Clear, colorful, warm and beautiful!
So I was up for learning to dive.
The occasion Brad chose for my first dive was a company party.
MDA (Micronesian Divers Association) was having a diving party.
No one seemed to flinch at the announcement that it would be a night dive.
No one but me.
Why in the world divers wanted to dive at night, I couldn't fathom.
But (being the supportive wife I was ... hehehehe) I went along with it.
At most company parties, employees and their spouses really dress up.
This one we dressed down.
Swim suits and cover-ups. That in itself was intimidating!
I so wanted to make Brad proud of me. So I just acted like everyone else - like it was a totally normal thing to strip down, don a BC and tank
and jump in.
Brad had compassion for me, so we worked slowly so we'd be the last ones off the boat.
He helped me get all my gear on, checked my tank
to make sure it was on, even had me practice breathe out of the regulator.
Everyone but the captain was not only in the water,
but submerged ... so we couldn't put it off any longer.
Brad hopped into the water and inched back to give me room for my giant-stride.
("Giant-stride" was about the only terminology I knew)
Following Brad's instructions I folded my left arm over my weight belt
and covered my regulator and mask with my right hand.
Before I took the plunge I had a miriad of thoughts race through my mind:
If I die, I hope they figure out who I really want raising my kids
Just how dark is the water at night?
What if I sink and Brad can't find me after I jump in?
How embarassing will this be for Brad if he has to resuscitate me in front of his co-workers?
But I did it anyway.
And I did it quite well! I did a perfect
GIANT STRIDE
off the side of the boat (a good 4 feet from the deck to the water!).
And I sunk.
But only for a minute.
Rising to the surface, I opened my eyes to see Brad.
Half my fears gone, I could now focus on new fears ... and I did...
...because it was time to let the air out of our BCs and really sink.
Brad was amazing. We let out our air, facing each other.
Our eyes were locked, LOCKED, I tell you! on each other as we slipped
down ... down ... down.
I don't think I blinked even once.
(a later dive ... this one during the day!)
Brad kept hold of my hand and we floated 50 feet below the surface.
I didn't see a thing.
Really.
All I remember seeing is Brad look at me, engaging my eyes every few seconds.
He'd shoot me the "OK" sign with his hand, and I'd respond with the "OK" sign right back at him.
Finally, I'd had enough.
After the "OK" sign, I shook my head and pointed UP.
Get me outta here! NOW!
I was shouting in my head, and I think it showed in my eyes
Because we started ascending.
I don't know how I knew it, but Brad didn't want to go up yet.
I couldn't understand why.
We've been under the water for hours and there's nothing neat to see! Let's get up, climb on board and get warm.
When we surfaced I learned why Brad wasn't ready to come up:
Way in the distance was a little dot.
The boat.
OK, it's true ... everything was exaggerated to me.
Brad tells me we were under water about 25 minutes, and the boat was only a football field length away. That's still quite a ways when you're on the surface, trying to swim back.
I was exhausted. I'd been so tense that I'd used every ounce of energy.
To swim that distance seemed impossible.
(I would later learn that dropping under the surface even just a little, then swimming back would take very little energy.)
Brad suggested we do that, but I'd really had enough.
So we headed back on the surface.
Well, I floated on my back and Brad pulled me back ...
so chivalrous!
We were among the first to return, and that wasn't a bad thing.
I was ridiculously clumsy.
Once we were settled Brad talked to me about the dive as if I'd seen all the cool things that he saw ...
He didn't realize that all I saw was the man who would lead me safely back home.
The way I've always seen him - the reason I married him.
I've always known that Brad will lead me safely home.
A later dive when I was much more brave!
