I had always wanted to learn to dive. I knew from photographs, from documentaries, from my friends and family that the underwater world boasted gorgeous landscapes complete with rainbow-colored fish, intricately shaped corals, and larger marine life like sea turtles and dolphins. I had brushed the surfaces of these aquatic environments through snorkeling, but I was ready to take the plunge and learn to dive.

The benefits of scuba diving were obvious: I could stay in the water for much longer, giving me more time to observe everything around me; I could dive deeper, showcasing ecosystems I had never before experienced; and finally, it would be an absolutely blast. I knew all these things, but I still couldn’t help feeling a little anxious.

Read the rest on the Emerald Coast blog!