New PADI Open Water Diver

Today I am official. I received my PADI Temporary ID card as an Open water Diver.

I can't believe that every time I go underwater I have this feeling that I never want to come up. Todays dive was brilliant. I dove at Osezaki, by the way Mt. Fuji-san was in the back ground with a snow cap trim on this warm autumns day.

I finished taking the OWD underwater testing and it went pretty smoothly. On the mask removal some how I got salt water in my mouth and not my eyes. Sensei said I need to relax my shins more. I finally got use to the lag time when exhaling so I would have better buoyancy. So in a matter of words I feel a little more confident in my ability. Then of course sensei started to show off by swimming backwards using her fins. The next skill after mastering buoyancy.

The "Viz" as they say was about 8-10 meters. I was looking forward to finding a morel eel like my first time diving (saw two) but no such luck, however I saw a sea snake's head out of the sand and my first lionfish. Well worth the sacrifice.

Mt. Fuji-san, the weather, the company, and all the in betweens were a great experience for my training as an Open water diver. I have found what I've been searching for.

My First Ocean Underwater Dive

Today was my first experience at ocean underwater diving (scuba diving). I have to say that the experience has been one of the greatest moments in my life. I have seen and done a lot however the fulfillment of seeing natures gifts, is just astonishing. The life, colors, dangers and many other names I hope to add to this blog are just simply put incredible.

I do not think I have seen so many wonders in any one place at any one time.

I have found something new to challenge the Gypsy blood in me.

We dove at Osezaki, Japan. My Dive Instructor Mariko has logged over 4000 dives (She is part Hammerhead with the height of 4'5inches thanks Mariko). I saw about 30 species of life, hand fed fish and did not want to leave the ocean.

Temperature was 20-21c. My 5mm suit kept me warm with no trouble, keep in mind Mt. Fuji had snow on the top and the rest of my team wore Dry suits.

I have to remember this. Very cool, strange, and Japanese. The Dive shop was wild it had a pet Parrie dog as a mascot, I saw like 5 getto/grubby cats with snub tails. And everyone brought their dogs.

The picture above: Painted by Yukako for my Birthday the day I passed the PADI Open Water Diver final exam. P.S. Happy Birthday Sir Bugzy.