De Glen T. , 26-05-2010

C-58 Gunboat Dive - This was my very first open water dive as a beginner on 11-27-07. It was very exilerating to me as I was the first one into the water from our boat and the only stooge wearing a diving suit in 80 degree water. (Thought the water was going to be colder in the morning of November? Dumb!) I was hesitant to even look beneath the water for fear of what I might find. I've never been in the open ocean water before (except onboard a fishing vessel) so, I was extremely nervous but, had to look brave for my wife (who was onboard, unable to dive from previously perferating her eardrum). When the rest of my team and the divemaster were in the water with me, as soon as we decended and I looked down toward the ocean floor, it took my breath away as it was incredible! I thought I was swimming in Windex! My breathing quickened and I had trouble keeping my rhythm because it was AWESOME! ALL of my fear left me and I wanted to stay down there as long as I could. the current carried us toward the C-58 gunboat as I was trying to tighten my mask (because, water kept seeping in under my nose. I forgot to adjust it on the boat!) As I kept wrestling with it, I looked up in front of me and right there before me was this sunken ship! If I didn't have my regulator in my mouth, my jaw would've hit the floor! It was an incredible sight as I could see it listing to starboard and it's big propellors partly burried in the sand. I stayed down as long as I was allowed (until my air was just under 1000 p.s.i. and our dive master signaled for my partner (Barry) and I to ascend to surface. What an AWESOME time that I'll never forget!

Next, my wife, daughter and I are off to Aruba to dive and are looking forward to diving again! Yeehaw!