Paula petting a pelagic Thresher shark.
I tried scuba diving in Thailand in 2019 and came home convinced I would get certified.
Then I spent years not doing it.
That first excursion had been enough to get me interested. After a brief introduction, an instructor guided me through a shallow dive surrounded by coral, schools of fish, and a sea turtle gliding past. I loved the feeling of being underwater and wanted to experience it again closer to home.
Back in Palm Beach, I had plenty of opportunities. I also had plenty of excuses.
Waiting for the Perfect Dive Buddy
Cold water, busy schedules, and friends who kept postponing their lessons made it easy to delay mine. I continued snorkeling while other people dove, reminding myself each time that I still wanted to get certified.
I kept waiting for someone to sign up with me. Eventually, I realized that was the part I could change.
I could book the lessons myself. I didn’t need to bring a friend to meet an instructor.
That decision introduced me to Paula Theophilo at Force-E.
Angie at a reef just off of Palm Beach.
Learning to Scuba Dive With Force-E
Paula’s enthusiasm helped settle my nerves. Having someone experienced beside me made the whole process feel more manageable.
First came the online coursework and test. I expected to get through it quickly. Half a day later, I had developed a new respect for the studying portion of this adventure.
Then we met in the pool.
We practiced breathing underwater, buoyancy, and essential safety skills. At first, breathing through the regulator felt unnatural. I had enjoyed it in Thailand, but now I was learning how to use the equipment and respond for myself.
With practice, the unfamiliar feeling began to ease. The calm I remembered from that first dive started coming back.
My First Ocean Dives at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea
For my first two open-water dives, Paula met me at Lauderdale-by-the-Sea.
Getting into the ocean with all my gear was a different experience from stepping into a pool. The waves pushed me around as we made our way out, and I needed Paula’s patient guidance to settle in.
Once we descended, I had something else to concentrate on.
There were fish moving around the reef, coral formations to look at, and eels on our first and second dives. The nerves that had occupied so much of my attention on the surface began to give way to curiosity.
Getting back to shore was more challenging.
The weather changed, rain began falling, and the waves made the return tiring. I’m not particularly athletic, and this was the part of the day that made sure I knew it.
Paula stayed with me and encouraged me through it. Somewhere in the commotion, I also lost a fin, adding one more complication before we finally made it ashore.
It was an exhausting introduction to how different open water can feel from a swimming pool. I was grateful to have an instructor beside me.
Sea turtles galore.
Finding My Confidence at Lighthouse Ledge
By the third dive, the weather had cleared, and we headed out by boat to Lighthouse Ledge near Hillsboro Inlet.
This was where I began to feel hooked.
The reef formations and marine life gave me plenty to watch, and I felt more comfortable with the equipment and the experience of being underwater. I was spending less time thinking about being nervous and more time looking around.
The boat ride brought another challenge: seasickness. Paula helped me manage the situation, and I felt better once we were back in the water.
Apparently, I was becoming more comfortable below the surface than waiting above it.
On our fourth dive, I spotted lobsters on the reef—another reminder of how much there was to notice once I stopped spending the whole dive inside my own head.
Finally Getting My Scuba Certification
By the end, my certification was on my phone. After all those years of putting it off, the digital confirmation looked almost too ordinary for something I was so excited to have finished.
I had studied, practiced, completed my dives, dealt with nerves, and come out wanting to go again.
There is still plenty for me to learn. But now I can start planning dives instead of watching other people head out and promising myself I’ll join them someday.
Asia, the Caribbean, and the reefs closer to home are all on my list.
If you’re waiting for a friend to sign up before you learn, I understand. I did that for years. Booking a lesson with an instructor was what finally got me moving.
I wish I had started sooner. I’m glad I finally did.
Learn more about scuba instruction at Force-E, or connect with Paula Theophilo.
By Angie Myers
Photos courtesy of Paula Theophilo
Contact: Paula@force-e.com
Paula and a Palm Beaches resident - a Green Sea Turtle.