First time certified diver

When Angela and I went to Australia a few years ago, we sailed out on a sail boat and went diving. It wasn't a "real" dive, since we had to hold the instructor's hand the whole time BUT we were at the at the great barrier reef, a place we may never return to so we had to try it. I was nervous to be underwater... a bit claustrophobic and panicky but I managed to overcome it for our 30 minute diving experience. Ever since then, I have wanted to become certified in diving. I wasn't sure I would ever do it. Sometimes I have pipe dreams that tend to stay just that.
But when we got the grant to Mexico, Angela and I were determined to spend part of that three weeks diving. We had initially planned to get certified IN Mexico, but upon further research, decided to get the certification part out of the way before we got on vacation. For one, it was a little cheaper here in Tulsa, for another, we heard horror stories of people getting certified in Mexico and coming back traumatized.
Angela did some research and signed us up for certification at Dive Tulsa. Not only that, she managed to fit it into our Funds for Teachers Grant so it wouldn't cost us anything! Part of the point to our grant was to broaden our horizons, push our comfort zones. Scuba diving fit right into that !
So Dive Tulsa gave us a video to watch, a book to read, some homework to complete. We then attended several hours of classroom instruction and took tests. We spend a Sunday in a pool and then headed to Beaver Lake Arkansas. For a lake, Beaver Lake is pretty clear. We spend the day practicing what we had learned... flooding and clearing our masks, buoancy, tired diver towing, emergency ascents, etc. I saw some pretty cool fish in the lake. More colorful than I expected.
AFter two days of diving, we were finally certified! I can't wait to get to Mexico to try it out.
It was really a rush to come away from that dive site as a certified diver. While I was diving, I didn't think about the house I was trying to sell or the one I was trying to buy. I didn't worry about Olivia's financial aid, Catt living on her own with a baby, Tommy heading overseas, Nathan graduating high school... nothing. I just DOVE. it's like underwater meditation. you have to stay focused for your safety and the safety of your buddy. But you also just seem to really live in the moment. Also, as I left I just LIKED myself more. I didnt' care that I am 44 and getting wrinkles. I didnt' care that I still had many pounds to lose before my stupid WII fit stops saying "that's overweight." I just liked myself. I was proud and confident and strong. I like Diver Nisi a lot.

-Nisi, first time certified diver