Everyone Has a First Time To Face New Experiences

My First Deep Dive Facing New Challenges

By Debby Blettner

I was not brave, I was scared stiff, but the curiosity of the dive, knowing Who was “holding my hand”, gave me courage.

Diving can be thrilling!

My first dive came after I was pushed into a 30 meter diving pool at Beatty Park Swimming Pool in Western Australia when I was 15. I found my cycling skills very effective for keeping my head above water until I clawed the wall of the pool to escape drowning.

A year later it was the intimidating diving board. I watched a few jumping, a few people diving. I had to try. Prancing down the diving board to the edge overhanging the water was exhilarating, so was the decision to jump or dive.

I chose the dive, neatly tucking my head into my arms, forming into an arrow without too much hesitation, leaving the bouncing diving board.

Flying through the air with the greatest of ease was beautiful. I imagined myself as I did in my dreams, flying freely and effortlessly. My dream crashed when I broke the surface of the water with my hands. The rest was downhill all the way into the depths of the pool.

Pondering if I should attempt to reach the bottom of the pool, reality struck as my breath became more challenging to hold. The water changed rapidly to a deeper shade of blue, the thrill was becoming a thriller.

Putting panic aside, I connected to the One I had always known and loved, having faith this was indeed not my last moment on earth.

Gravity began pulling me upwards gracefully to the light. It seemed an eternal distance, like a light at the end of a long tunnel. I began to blow bubbles to avoid my head from splitting from the intense pressure of the water.

I felt a special moment between me and my Creator. There was nothing I could do but surrender, kick gently and paddle my arms with cupped hands powering my way to the surface.

Patience, hope and faith became my life’s lesson. Somehow I knew I would surface, keeping my eyes fixed firmly on the pale blue-lit water while surfacing.

I lost focus, my face surrounded with bubbles, fearing I would not make it. I thought of my parents, my stupidity at taking the dive, the risk, all for the thrill of it.

With each moment the surface became clearer, the more I surrendered the faster I surfaced. As my kicking and digging slowed, being almost faint with exhaustion with no breath left in me with no more thoughts, the miracle happened.

In surreal slow-motion my head surfaced through the pale blue circle I had focused so hard on. I gasped so hard I thought I would pass out.

I believed I was still alive, though not absolutely sure. Without knowing I found myself holding the wall of the pool, too weak to get out.

Again, without knowing how, I found myself on dry land, walking towards my towel and gear. It took me a few days to comprehend all that had happened. This is my first time to describe it in words, but the impression of it lasted my life time.

So often I related my first dive to my new endeavors including my wedding, natural childbirths for my two daughters, my experience in a hijacked airplane, cancer surgeries, reversing autoimmune diseases as a few examples.

It seems no matter how deep I fall, I know I will always rise again to the surface. My faith pulls me through every time.

What dives have you taken lately?

What dives are overdue?

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