Under the Sea: Lessons Learned from Scuba Diving in Santa Marta, Colombia
Ever since I can remember, I’ve been wanting to become Scuba Certified but had always thought I would want to try it first before fully committing to certification. I mean, what if I got there and couldn’t do it or just found out that I hated it? I didn’t want to spend all of that money to find out I had a deep fear of diving or just come to find out it wasn’t what I hoped…
So in 2021, on my first solo trip to Santa Marta, Colombia, I booked a beginner scuba diving experience. I honestly didn’t know what to expect other than it was advertised as a “Try Drive” where you learn basic scuba skills, get to dive in two different places, and the whole event would last around 3-4 hours.
While I messaged the company asking any and all questions that came to mind before the morning of the dive, I didn’t actually do any research beforehand or watch any videos on YouTube (a bit unlike me). I expected we would have a thorough, classroom style overview over everything I needed to know before I was in the water but that was not necessarily the case.
In true, relaxed, Latin American fashion, the kind instructor briskly walked me through the basics and a few hand signals on the quick 20 minute boat drive from the marina to the first dive site. Before I knew it, she was telling me to fall backwards out of the boat and into the water.
It was a bumpy start for me adjusting to the completely disorienting experience of being fully immersed in the sea. After what felt like at least 30 minutes teetering between above and below, I finally felt calm enough to explore further down. The instructor kindly grabbed my hand and we began the dissent. She pointed at interesting fish and objects to keep my mind off the fear that if I panicked or made any wrong moves, my lungs or brain might explode at any moment.
Once I got past the fear and sunk further down to the sea floor, what I found was incredible. The quiet. The feeling of stillness. It was so peaceful and a whole new world opened up before me. I loved it!
Some photos my scuba instructor snapped after I finally let go of her hand 😂
Scuba diving can be an incredible experience that allows you to explore the underwater world, but it can also be a bit intimidating if you're not sure what to expect. Here are a few things I didn’t know ahead of time that might be useful to know before diving for the first time:
You'll Wear Weights in the Water
One of the first things you might notice when you go scuba diving is that you'll be wearing a weight belt. This might seem counterintuitive since you might think that you want to float in the water, but the weights are actually necessary to help you descend and stay underwater. The amount of weight you need will depend on your body composition and the thickness of your wetsuit.
Breathing Underwater Takes Some Getting Used To
At least, it did for me! Breathing underwater can feel strange at first, and you might need time to acclimate. Take your time.. You'll be breathing through a regulator, which is a device that attaches to your scuba tank and delivers air to you when you inhale. Once you acclimate, it will become second nature.
Your Ears Might Feel Strange
As you descend underwater, you might feel some pressure in your ears. This is because the water exerts more pressure on your eardrums than the air does on the surface. You can equalize this pressure by pinching your nose and gently blowing out, which will force air into your ears and equalize the pressure. I had to do this quite a bit and I had one ear in particular that gave me a hard time. If you’ve had a ruptured eardrum or any inner ear issues recently, consult with a physician before diving.
The Underwater World is Amazing
Once you get used to the sensation of breathing underwater and equalizing the pressure in your ears, you'll be able to explore the underwater world. You might see colorful fish, coral reefs, and other amazing marine life. Scuba diving can give you a unique perspective on the world, and it's an experience you'll never forget.
You'll Need to Learn Underwater Communication Skills
Before you go scuba diving, you'll need to learn some basic underwater communication skills to communicate with your dive partner. If you can learn these in advance, it definitely helps! Between acclimating to breathing underwater and trying to remember all of the hand gestures, it took me a bit, but I got the hang of it.
You’re not supposed to drink alcohol or fly for several hours after diving.
When you dive, nitrogen from the air becomes absorbed in your body's tissues, and if you ascend too quickly (flying), the nitrogen can form bubbles, causing decompression sickness, which can be life-threatening.
Alcohol can cause dehydration and affects your judgment, making it harder to recognize the symptoms of decompression sickness. Flying can also increase the risk of decompression sickness, as the change in air pressure can cause the bubbles to expand.
As a general rule, you should wait at least 12 to 24 hours after diving before drinking alcohol or flying to ensure that your body has enough time to eliminate excess nitrogen. It is essential to prioritize safety when scuba diving to ensure a fun and enjoyable experience.
I’m glad they told me this ahead of time so I was able to plan to dive at the beginning of my trip rather than waiting until the end and then not being able to go!
If you’ve ever wanted to go scuba diving, I highly recommend the coast of Colombia (I’ve also heard really good things about the Honduran islands). Don’t let it intimidate you and just focus on taking it one step at a time. Once you get the hang of it, a whole new world of life under-the-sea (and exciting travel destinations) await!
Note: I know you can pay big bucks to go on a dive or get certified in some places, but there are many that are reasonably price! My “try dive” cost about $60USD for a full morning of underwater exploring and basic instruction.
If you're interested in scuba diving, but have never tried it, I’d be happy to share more, just shoot me a message at @travelherco or via email.