Xingyu's Open Water Diving Experience!

From 7-9 June, our Kaia Initiative Open Water Diving contest winners Davina and Xingyu took their PADI Open Water course and became certified Junior scuba divers!

(You can read Davina's article here.)

Let's hear from 14-year-old Xingyu about her experience as a young student who took the Open Water course at S.E.A. Aquarium, and how diving felt for the very first time!

Hi! I’m Xingyu and I submitted an artwork for Kaia Initiative's Open Water contest.

I’ve always wanted to be a diver, to be able to see the vibrant life in the ocean. Growing up, I loved to go to the sea aquarium and was so jealous of the fish there because they could swim so freely. However my parents, being non divers, did not support my idea as they thought it was dangerous (which is true I guess). Then school came along and with the stress of homework and exams, I pretty much forgot about it.

Until I heard about this contest.

Honestly I didn’t think I would actually win (I saw the top ten submissions and I was really nervous I thought some might actually be better than mine) so when I got the notice I almost couldn’t believe it.

The course was 3 days and it went by so fast. It was so exciting and fun and new. I got to meet new people, learn new skills, and be in a completely new and different environment (I felt more like a fish than a human). The instructors were amazing and I felt really at ease with them.

There was a mask removal skill that I absolutely hated because I liked to breathe salt water. I was struggling at the bottom of the 12m tank in sea aquarium when I heard (keyword heard) my instructor say “breathe”. It was loud and clear and I magically calmed myself down. It felt so unreal and I’m grateful to have that moment in my life.

In conclusion, I enjoyed the course really much, it felt so short. I hope I get to dive again with my buddy (who kicked me in the head) and all my friends.

-Xingyu, 14