FEARS OFTHE OCEAN TURNSTO JOY
AT 61 ,WIFE AND MOTHER BECOMES A DIVER BETSY MEADE, KSC AMBASSADOR
By Betsy Meade My husband, Doug, and I recently
life. Once, as soon as I got in the water, I saw a jellyfish and immediately got back on the boat. FACING MY FEARS Doug has been diving for over fifteen years. I spent many vacations sitting on beaches while he ventured off scuba diving for one or two days. He returned with stories and pictures of his dives, and I was entertained by hearing about his time underwater. Doug enjoyed diving but had mixed emotions about leaving me and the family to go diving while we were on vacation. Although he suggested that I get certified and join him, it was something that I did not think I could do. I was content sitting on the beach and looking at his fascinating pictures. There were many reasons why I believed I would not enjoy scuba diving.
I am claustrophobic, and I knew being underwater would scare me. I was afraid of not having immediate access to fresh air. I was not a strong enough swimmer. The thought of swimming with sharks and even fish terrified me. So many excuses. Margo Peyton, a close friend and owner of Kids Sea Camp, talked with me with passion, understanding, and determination that finally dispelled each of my concerns. She gave me enough confidence to overcome my fears, so I signed up for the PADI Open Water class in July 2023 in Roatan, Honduras. LEARNING ABOUT BUBBLES I was terrified when I arrived in Roatan. The night before my first class, I convinced myself that scuba diving was not for me. However, the following day, I did not want to explain to Margo
retired after raising four children. We both enjoyed traveling, so we started thinking about where we wanted to go and what we wanted to do together. Doug is active and likes adventure, biking, and scuba diving. I favor sightseeing, beaches, and relaxing. I am willing to try new things, but scuba diving was definitely something that I had ever thought I would do. I was not fond of swimming in the ocean. As a child, I was content to sit in the sun and play in the sand. As I grew older, I occasionally ventured out into the waves, but I was afraid of all the “creatures” waiting to torment me. On several vacations, I attempted to snorkel but never quite got the hang of breathing through a snorkel or swimming with sea
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