For years I’ve been looking into getting scuba certified, but I always found a reason not to do it. Too busy, too expensive, I don’t know where to go…the excuses were endless. On a quiet Saturday morning I was looking for something to do for the weekend when I opened Groupon and there it was at the top of the search results for things to do in the Tampa area: “Scuba Certification at Mac’s Sports in Clearwater.” The price seemed too good to be true, so I checked their Google ratings looking for the catch. When you are embarking on getting a certification in something that can cost you your life if not done properly, you make sure the company doesn’t have any asterisks next to their ratings. They came back clear, in business for over 85 years with two locations in Tarpon Springs and Clearwater. Great review all around. Ok, I was committed. We were in the pool within a week.
There’s something special about learning a new skill together as a family, especially when that skill opens the door to an entirely new world. Our instructor, Steve, had the perfect combination of patience, knowledge and sense of humor. Apparently, there are a lot of funny happenings that go along with venturing into a world where humans just don’t belong. Whether he was explaining diving physics, demonstrating proper use of the regulator or calmly coaching us through emergency rescue skills underwater, he made the learning process both comfortable and enjoyable. My boys and I have different personalities, as did the other seven members of our class, and he patiently dealt with any issues and concerns we had.
Becoming scuba certified doesn’t happen overnight. Our certification included four, three-hour classroom and pool training sessions, where we learned everything from the basics of dive planning and underwater communication to buoyancy control and emergency procedures. We practiced removing and clearing our masks, recovering disengaged regulators, sharing air with a buddy and doing surface rescues, and mastering the skills that make scuba diving both safe and enjoyable. A nice bonus was that our training included all the equipment, except for masks, snorkel, booties, fins and weights.
One of the things that surprised us most was just how much science goes into scuba diving. When diving, you breathe compressed air through a regulator. You learn important safety principles like equalizing pressure and ascending slowly to avoid decompression sickness. We were given an app to download to learn all the material needed to become certified. Each section had a test that we needed to pass to continue. The final online exam required passing in only two attempts and, let me tell you, it was not easy. We learned that every dive is carefully planned, and the buddy system is emphasized. You learn to dive within your limits, always. Scuba is truly a sport where preparation and teamwork go hand in hand.
After completing our training, it was finally time for our two open water checkout dives —the real test before becoming certified. Our first destination was Hudson Grotto, one of Florida’s most unique inland dive sites. Located in Hudson, the former limestone quarry has become a popular training location for new divers and experienced scuba enthusiasts. With depths reaching around 100 feet in some areas, the grotto offers underwater platforms, training stations with plenty of fish and even a few submerged attractions. The water was tannic, tinged orange, but had pretty good visibility once your eyes adjusted. For new divers, Hudson Grotto provides an ideal environment to practice skills outside of a swimming pool while still enjoying relatively calm conditions, no current or waves. Standing at the water’s edge in full scuba gear was equal parts excitement and nervous anticipation. Underwater, everything became quiet, peaceful and surprisingly relaxing once over the initial shock of being able to breathe at 25 feet. Watching my boys navigate underwater was the highlight. They took to it with ease, performing all required tasks and communicating with hand signals instead of words. What you see accomplished underwater at depth is difficult to express.
Florida is one of the best places in the country to become scuba certified. With more than 8,000 miles of coastline, hundreds of springs, coral reefs, shipwrecks and crystal-clear rivers, the Sunshine State offers incredible diving opportunities for every experience level. Water temperatures remain comfortable much of the year, making Florida a destination for divers from around the world. We are now included in that statistic and, looking back, earning our scuba certification was about much more than learning to dive. It was about challenging ourselves, stepping outside our comfort zones and creating memories that we’ll talk about for years to come. Sharing the experience with my sons made every lesson, every practice session and every checkout dive even more meaningful.
Hudson Grotto marked the beginning of our underwater journey, giving us the confidence and skills to continue exploring. Next month, I’ll share the story of our second checkout dive at Rainbow River.