The Ripples to My Passion
Adults always asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. I never had the answer for that question. I just knew what I loved to do: travel, adventure, and be near the ocean. It wasn’t until I visited Hawaii in 2014, that really led me to my passion in life. The trip started a ripple effect towards my passion and where I am today… a scuba diver, freediver, captain, ocean advocate, and mermaid.
In Hawaii, my family and I went on a snuba diving charter. Snuba diving leaves the air tank at the surface in a small float while the diver swims 15 feet below the surface with a hose to breathe air. I fell in love with the ocean that day. Shortly after returning to Florida, my family and I earned our open water scuba certifications.
Snuba diving in Hawaii 2014
From my first breath underwater in 2014, I knew that diving was going to be a big part of my life. It became my passion and my obsession. I immersed myself so much deeper into the ocean after having a little taste of another world.
Each year, I signed up for a new scuba course. I followed my open water scuba certification with nitrox, advanced, rescue, divemaster, and eventually my PADI Open Water Scuba Instructor certification.
In addition to diving all over Florida, I have also dove in Italy, Bahamas, Puerto Rico, Turks and Caicos, Virgin Islands, the Dry Tortugas, and Tahiti. The Dry Tortugas was one of the best scuba diving learning experiences I had as an intermediate diver. On this four day live-aboard scuba trip, we dove about 6-7 times a day and spearfished local waters. This was where I learned to spearfish, regulations for fishing, and went on my first night dive.
I earned my F.I.I. Level 1 Freediver certification and continue to challenge myself mentally and physically. Freediving is breath-hold diving and consists of mask, fins, snorkel, and weight belt, no air source. The Level 1 freediving course taught me safety, technique, how to correctly hold my breath, physiology and physics of freediving, and static apnea (stationary breath holding). I initially dove to only 35 feet and now can dive to 80 feet.
In the summer of 2018, I earned my OUPV 6 Pack Captains license. Conservation has also taken over a big part of my life; which I think comes with the ocean lifestyle. Now, I think about the decisions I make and how they will affect the environment.
I founded the University of North Florida Dive Club where we introduced students into the underwater world and organized trips all over Florida.
My favorite part where this all took me is underwater photography. I absolutely love capturing animals in their natural habitat, unaffected by humans. I also love capturing humans underwater experiencing how free the ocean makes them feel and how they can fly underneath the surface gravity-free.
I am asked why I love the ocean so much, and my response is usually, “Astronauts travel far, far away into space to visit other planets. We have a completely different world right under our feet. All you have to do is dive in.”
My mom jokes that she regrets signing us up for snuba diving because now I dive with scary creatures underwater (there are no scary creatures underwater, lol). But the truth is, we are the top of the food chain. Humans control everything. The chance to enter a different world and be equal with other organisms and animals is why I love diving in every chance I get. I never know what is going to happen. It’s the greatest adventure I have had yet.
If it weren’t for the snuba diving charter in Hawaii, I wouldn’t be where I am today. I would not have earned my scuba diving and freediving certifications, started the UNF Dive Club, traveled to so many places in search of clear water and new underwater environments, earned my captain’s license, made so many friends, and found my passion. Snuba diving started the ripple effect towards my passion.
It’s important to try new things even if you think you’re scared of them. Get out of your comfort zone. You never know where it will take you.
Sometimes, life’s most beautiful part is discovering the unknown.
P.S. If you want to try scuba diving but aren’t sure it’s the hobby for you, there is a program called PADI Discover Scuba Diving. It is an introductory lesson into scuba diving to see if you would like it. I highly recommend this for anyone who is curious about scuba diving but is not ready to take that big leap yet.
