My Diving Journey: Part 3 of 4
New here? Catch up on my beginnings >> Read Part 1: From Non-Swimmer to Certified Diver
Then, discover my turning point: >> Read Part 2: Beyond the Basics
Pushing New Limits
With a solid foundation and mindset in recreational diving, shaped by my rescue course, a new, more challenging frontier began to call: technical diving. I view this as a powerful tool, enabling me to see the least visited places on Earth. This world of twin sets, decompression limits, and intricate planning seemed intimidating, yet incredibly compelling.
My curiosity, coupled with the unique allure of places like the caves in Tulum and history wrecks in Chuuk Lagoon (also known as Truk Lagoon), propelled me towards a path that would test my limits, questions my intentions, and redefine my understanding of what diving truly entails.
This is the raw story of my technical ascent, including why I almost threw in the towel.
The Technical Ascent: Caves, Challenges, and Helitrox
In 2023, driven by a desire to advance and a lingering fascination with Tulum’s cenotes (and eventually my love for wrecks), my buddy Kevin and I decided to pursue technical diving. We flew to Tulum for 2.5 weeks, telling our instructor (who was our recreational guide previously) that we wanted to go “as far as we could” toward caving diving.
Even before the trip, I knew the tech diving certifications are “earned, not paid for.” My boss at work, who pursued sidemount and cave diving during 2019-2021, provided invaluable exposure to the progression. It was significant to see an ordinary, non-professional person I knew achieving something seemingly unattainable. His experience (losing 10 lbs and getting sick during his first attempt) underscored the difficulty.
His advice, “slow is smooth, smooth is fast,” made little sense until much later, when I could actually control “slow.”
Our initial objective of “becoming a better diver” was simply too broad and plain wrong for tech. I lacked sufficient drysuit experience to properly manipulate buoyancy, trim, and position, coupled with the unfamiliarity of heavy double twin sets (which weights more than my body!). Going “as far as we could” in 2.5 weeks proved overwhelming. Kevin and I also had different implied goals: I was more in a “going-along” mindset, while he genuinely wanted the cave certification to explore.
This taught me a crucial lesson: be honest with myself, my buddy, and my instructor about my personal goals.
Kevin and I had a heart-to-heart conversation after that trip. Was I willing to continue, knowing it was significantly harder for me and would take longer to master in-water skills? I worried about being the weakest link, but we’d committed to being at the same level to explore together. Fortunately, my instructor connected us with another instructor (similar size/build as me, different teaching style) who helped me find the right gear and laid out a clear progression path. I decided to give it one more go.
We practiced methodologically for a year, diving in the Pacific Northwest (PNW, namely Puget Sound and Hood Canal) almost every week (a three-hour drive each way!). We meticulously practiced dive planning, buoyancy, trim, propulsion, and line work. Returning to Tulum for Intro to Cave, we knew exactly what to expect. Our goal was crystal clear: complete the course and enjoy fun dives at that level. The course was still demanding, but our practice paid off! I finally began to truly enjoy the unique “wet rocks.” Even so, during tech dives, about 70% of my capacity is still dedicated to checklists (gas, environment, gear, buddy), leaving only 30% for pure enjoyment. And the same applies for recreational dives. There is no going back to be the ignorant and happily following tourist.
>> Read more: My Pacific Northwest (PNW) diving began shortly after this course. For more on the unique challenges and rewards of cold-water diving, check out my other post:Cold, Miserable, but Lively: Cold Water Diving in the Pacific Northwest
In 2023 and 2024, our local dives in the PNW had a new target: to meet the famous Bluntnose sixgill sharks at Redondo Beach, typically found around 30-35m. But with no-decompression limits, we only had 5-10 minutes left by the time we reached the depth – not enough time to wait for the beauties to show up! This motivated our latest step: Advanced Recreational Trimix (ART), also known as Helitrox. We went back to our trusted Tulum instructor’s recommendation and uneventfully finished the class. My buoyancy and SMB deployment can always improve, but the class equipped us to plan and execute deco dives with short deco stops, enabling us to stay longer to wait for sixgills. Let’s hope 2025 summer is the summer we see the sixgills!
We’re now practicing these skills and eagerly looking forward to completing Full Cave. Our training dates of Full Cave just finalized to be end of September 2025!
>>Read more: Learn more about Bluntnose sixgill sharks and the crowd-sourcing sighting data on https://www.sixgillsharks.org/home
My Key Lessons Learned
Reflecting on this journey, these are the most important lessons I’ve learned:
- Define Your Goal (Clearly & Honestly): A big eventual goal is great, but break down immediate objectives into smaller, actionable steps. Be honest with yourself, your buddy, and your instructor about your personal goals and limitations.
- Buddy Team Dynamics: Understand the differences between you and your dive buddy – from goals and execution to learning styles. Discuss what’s important for each person and what’s non-negotiable.
- Choose Training Environment: Whenever possible, take classes in an environment that resembles your intended dive sites, or even a harder one. This prepares on for real-world conditions.
- It’s Okay to Be Emotional: It’s okay to cry, to struggle, and to feel overwhelmed. Everyone has moments like this. The key is to get over it and come out stronger, not dwelling on the feelings of failing. It takes me a lot of time to get out of the “failing mindset,” and I am still learning to master this daily in life.
- Ask for help or a break when needed: Don’t push through if you’re truly struggling.
- Instructor Fit Matters: A great diver doesn’t always equate to a great teacher. A great instructor for one person doesn’t always equate to a great instructor for another. Seek instructors whose teaching style and diving philosophy matches your personality and learning background. Don’t be afraid to find the right fit, even if it means switching, since it’s hard to know in advance.
- Practice, Practice, Practice: Consistent practice is non-negotiable for mastery, especially when you can’t dive every week. For example: Practice linework on land is worthwhile and fun.
- “Slow is Smooth, Smooth is Fast”: This wisdom truly sinks in with practice and
The Journey Continues
My technical diving journey has been a testament of perseverance, meticulous planning, and the unwavering pursuit of knowledge. It’s a path that demands dedication but offers unparalleled rewards, taking you to places few ever see and an inner self that you might discover along the way. I’m excited to continue this adventure, learning and growing with every dive.
Stay tuned for my next post, where I’ll share my progression formula for aspiring technical divers in “Part 4: My Technical Dive Progression Formula: A Roadmap for Aspiring Advanced Divers.“
>> Read more: I finished my Full Cave course in 2025 Oct. Read what I learned in “My Journey to Full Cave Certification: A Reflection”
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Editorial disclaimer
Please be aware that scuba diving is an inherently risky activity, even with certification and experience. The content on this blog reflects my personal opinions and experiences and should not be considered instructional. Always prioritize safety, seek guidance and certification from qualified diving professionals, and carefully consider the risks involved in any dives.
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