SCUBA training

How, you might ask, does training for SCUBA diving have anything to do with the content of this blog?

Chalk this up to yet one more thing for which I am forever grateful to my parents. Years ago, my father and I trained together to achieve our certifications as advanced open water divers. I say “parents”, because my mother approved of this sport even though I was only thirteen at the time and was supportive when I dove on somewhat dangerous places such as plane wrecks in the Caribbean!

The training involved both book study and water courses. The water training ranged from learning various skills in a pool, to navigating at night in a local lake, to diving deep in a former Ohio stone quarry. In order to achieve our certification, we had to prove certain skill sets. Some were fairly simple, others were very challenging. One of the more difficult skills for me happened fairly early in the training. While we were about twenty feet under water our instructor knocked our masks off of our faces and removed our mouth pieces. We had to fight the urge to panic and race to the surface, and instead calmly find our masks and mouth piece, replace them, then clear water from both and resume breathing normally.

This exercise is crucial. It proves to the instructor that if the student is struck in the face and the equipment is removed,the student is prepared and able to replace it. Sure, at twenty feet I was able to easily rush to the surface without my mask and air. But if I were diving in a cave at 100 feet, my options would be far more limited. This exercise was one of many in my training; but more importantly, I proved to myself that I could handle such a troubling event.

Life presents its own moments that incite discomfort and panic. Yet, we must respond calmly with a measured tone. I’ve discussed in earlier posts (Life Lessons and Hot Sauce) that our past experiences are mere preparation for the future. I would have never thought, while sitting at the bottom of a swimming pool, at age 13, fighting the urge to race to the surface, that I would be writing to you all now and sharing our story of little Jacob. I am convinced that the lesson I learned – to stay calm and fight the urge to panic – served me well in the hospital room, and continues to serve me well now in so many different situations.