Well, it's finally arrived and after a fantastic Christmas and early birthday that saw me frantically repacking to fit all the new gear I'd received off my gorgeous hubby and lovely family (sparkling new regulators and carry case, a Suunto Zoop computer and a Seaquest Diva BCD) we set off to Gatwick airport on 28th December for a 12 hour flight to Costa Rica....
After a day by the pool to get over the jet lag we are collected from the hotel at some ungodly hour in the morning by the lovely Nico from Diving Safaris and driven to Playa Hermosa to the shop... not so eager are the four other divers we are supposed to collect on the way, who apparently decide to stay in bed with a hangover!
At the shop I'm feeling pretty scared - although I wouldn't admit it to my brother and sister-in-law - but also pretty excited. It's going to be a day of 'firsts' - first dive without an instuctor there to hold my hand; first dive with my own kit; first dive off a boat; first dive in the ocean; first dive with my inspirational 'divemaster in training' brother (that's him up top there)....
A few forms later and we get onto the boat. We're diving today at a site called 'Surprise' with one of Diving Safari's instructors, Canadian Tracy (easy to remember) and one of her Open Water students who just certified. Trying to at least look confident I get kitted up and launch myself off the boat into the water with a backwards roll I'm hoping looks slightly more classy than the one my sister-in-law has just done.... Oooops! I always find it works better when you put air in your BCD!! How could I forget that?!
I eventually surface to a slightly worried looking buddy - my SIL - who roars with laughter when I explain what took me! At least it washes my nerves away. The dive goes in a flash and I'm delighted to find that I do OK, I love it down there, my buoyancy control is fine and that when I remember to take in what I'm seeing (although the visibility is pretty poor) I'm gobsmacked with wonder at the beautiful reef life down there; moray eels, puffa fish and an octopus.
I'm a bit cold in my 5mm when we swim through the thermoclines, and I run a little low on air, surfacing when I get to 50bar, giving me enough for a safety stop.
Back on the boat for the surface interval I have another 'embarrassing incident' when I discover that I am in fact sea sick, as the pineapple I've just scoffed reappeared almost as quickly as it went down, to shouts of "FISH FOOD" from the captain and a knowing look from my sister-in-law, who, it turns out, takes quells to stop the very same happening but didn't think to offer me one before we set out! LOL
The second dive of the day takes us to Tortuga where we descend down the anchor line to do a little wreck diving. This time we see a stingray, despite visibility being almost an arm stretch in areas! I'm buddying my SIL and am mortified to see that her tank has come completely loose and has slipped out of its holding in her BCD! Not good, but with a bit of rearrangement we get it back in place and off we go. Nothing like some little 'incidents' to liven up a dive eh?!
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