Second day of diving. We were going to this divesite called El Bajo del Diablo. Supposedly where you’ll have the best chances of spotting manta rays, as it’s out on the deeper part of the ocean. We had been told, that there would be a lot of current at the surface and had to descend quickly.
In the middle of descending, this gigantic creature started appearing in the distance. A fucking MANTA RAY!!!!!! Without a doubt the best diving moment I’ve ever had. Utterly flabbergasted and amazed! Huge experience. Will never forget that. Damn.
Once at the bottom (20m depth) the current was even stronger, and the instructor made us swim towards the current. I just couldn’t keep up. Struggling so hard, out of breath, fearing to drift away with the current. I started coughing while taking a huge breath. The regulator somehow went out of my mouth. Got grabbed by the current. I starting swallowing so much water. Probably because I was in shock and panicking at once. Immediately started ascending. At about 10m depth I finally found my regulator, put it in my mouth and tried to breath. Not easy with so much water in your lungs.
Once at the surface, I started coughing water up. Shaking so badly when trying to pull myself onto the boat. The two captains couldn’t speak English, probably wouldn’t have bothered anyway. They didn’t help me get up nor say a word to me. So I just sad there alone, crying. This is one the scariest moments of my life. Literally feared I would drown. Not to be dramatic – but this is by far my biggest fear when diving.
So grateful it went okay. With the support of my ever amazing husband Benjamin, I even pressured myself to do the second dive that day (at another easier divesite). As they say in the skydiving community “best not end the day on a bad jump”. Wasn’t gonna end the day on a bad dive. And I didn’t. But phew, what a fucking day it was!
Over the moon about having seen a manta ray, but I admit, that it was almost overshadowed by feelings of shame and disappointment about what happened just after and how I handled it.
