What more can I say about Oahu Diving, Erik, it was certainly a pleasure, you my friend are more than just a dive instructor but a counselor. I felt so at ease with him as I reluctantly went down because the overwhelming thought of "I can't even swim, and I have weights on" crept into my mind as I saw my boyfriend who was 2nd to enter the water, 30 ft below on the rope and my mind was racing as I was the 3rd to the last person. I reminded Erik a few times, I do not know how to swim, and he quickly was very attentive using hand signals to help gauge you to calming down. I actually had let one person pass me up before realizing I didn't want to be the last person down and Erik stayed there patiently with me. When we went down there, I couldn't believe how clear it was just so wonderful and bright as if someone had a chandelier down below the ocean with a dance floor. I was so careful to protect my mouthpiece as I did not want anyone to 'by chance' kick it out as I know you're not supposed to surface fast because of the pressure. I remember being extremely thirsty wanting to get water, that is the funny part about to be told, because as I left the group to go upwards toward the boat, Erik's colleague Aiko ---I think Japanese guy with the blonde fro, saw me coming up as he was watching all of us from above but still under the ocean he pushed me back down 20 feet while I wanted to say "noooooh!!!" He probably thought I lost my ability to stay down but no I wanted to let him know, "I'm thirsty." Whenever you feel this way Erik kindly explained it's because there should not be any moisture in the tank or it will rust, which is good to know. Since it was my first dive, I had not known to expect it but after I went down again thanks to Aiko, I felt fine it was a "whole new world" indeed. That was our first part of the dive and soon to be last part.
We came up to go to another part of the body of water but on the boat, being that my boyfriend and I had just come from Skydiving at Skydive Hawaii, that same day at 12 noon, and then to scuba dive at around 2:30pm, he hadn't eaten a thing, but I had snuck in some snacks when we were at the hotel so I was fine. He had gotten sick while under the water, probably from being very hungry, not to mention, jumping out of the plane at about 16,000ft 2 hours prior might just do that to anyone.
Being empathetic, I chose not to do the 2nd dive to nurse him, and again being so empathetic after seeing him hurl "downwind" twice, I realized he had nothing to bring up but air since he hadn't eaten. I started feeling nauseated too and in impeccable synchronization, started to hurl over the boat, with another fellow, who had come up from his 2nd dive and was on the edge of the boat. It was like a comedy movie I tell yah.
Anyway, Erik, being so understanding told me he would refund half my trip and give me a free scuba dive whenever we returned. I hope soon Erik! Here are some photos as to show I did do the dive and I did skydive the same day.
I just wanted to do so many activities I did many in a day like the both of my activities to prove it was humanly possible. I liked the "mission impossible" fantasy to it, until I began to feel sea sick! For a person who can't swim nor fly, I was fortunate to do both in the same day. Next time I will pace myself!
Next time we will only scuba! Amazingly paradise filled sites on the way there, under the water, and on the way back! I hope to see an octopus and a starfish next time for sure. If I'd ever be lucky enough to see a dolphin that would be something else. I also saw the dolphins in captivity but doing the royal swim in Sea Life Park too, I used to be against animals in captivity but as long as they're happy, being fed with the only environment they know and they help educate people on how intelligent they are, I am all for donating money to them as well as OAHU DIVING!
Thank you so much everyone and hopefully next time Anna is on the same dive too :) Take Care and Big Mahalos!!!
ALOHAAAAA!!~ read more