This was a different world. A world where gravity didn’t matter. Only lead weights did. A world where you breathed air carried on your back. Ten feet below the ground.

That world was the swimming pool at the scuba diving lesson center, and the world outside the swimming pool; the places I had unearthed by scuba diving for the first time: the Caribbean seas, the vast lakes, and the expansive oceans. Water covered most of the world, and although I wouldn’t be able to swim in it all, it will still quite an experience.

I could already imagine corals, fish, and the beauty of the ocean at Playa Del Carmen (we were going there in a few days). I could go deeper than just snorkeling. I could literally touch the corals.

Of course, I couldn’t do that now. I was in a swimming pool. But that didn’t stop me from envisioning. I was doing a lesson designed to let me get a feel for the gear.

That morning, we had driven down to the facility. Jerry (our instructor) had showed us a video that basically told us that the water was not the native environment of humans, and that it was danger. I was already itching to get into the water.

And then we were in. Jerry passed down the gear. On went the goggles, the puffy jacket that would hold weights and air, the air tank, the fins, and finally, the super-important regulator.

Then I went underwater.

The water swished by my ears. I breathed out in awe, and air bubbles flew up to the surface, giving gurgling sounds as they passed my ears. I breathed in, and air shot in through the regulator, showering me with crisp air. It felt great.

I tried swimming around. As I swam, the air tank followed, and the backup regulator floated behind me. It was a great feeling. I went deeper, and added air to my ears. With a small pop, I could swim deeper.

It was really a great feeling, being able to swim around without the restriction of air. I breathed in and out. I played with a small torpedo toy I found with my dad. We passed it around, having fun.

The water swooshed by. Normally I would be threatened that I wouldn’t have any air, but today, I was free.