DIVE MASTERS I had 12 dives on my record prior to this trip from the Caribbean trip last May. Santa Rosa Wall, one of the 12 dive spots here in Cozumel, is one of my favorites! with the canyons, the corals, AND the strong current. At 90 ft. deep, I had no problem navigating through the canyons! I’ d wander o ", and then looked for the yellow fins! and swim towards them to get closer to my dive buddy Carl. The wall is quiet distracting yet spectacular, and the current a bit challenging. I learned something that I will never forget to this day.“ I better master my buoyancy control, or I get punished!”! it’ s a joke now, but let me tell you what happened... $ Left: Photo by Mark Hilton %
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Navigating from 90 to 50 ft., I attempted to release air from my BCD, but to no avail. I kept ascending uncontrollably! faster & sooner than I wanted to. I dove down with flippers above me! and that didn’ t work. My dive buddy Carl knew what I was doing, but it was too late, I kept ascending to the surface. Carl tried to pull me down, and the boat dive master, Pedro tried to pull me up so I could release more air. I felt like a propeller being flipped up and down by the two dive masters! It happened so fast, the next thing I knew, my air got knocked out of my mouth, and then it registered,“ I can’ t breath!” but still not panicking, I simply looked for my regulator, grabbed it, and put it back in my mouth to breathe. Both dive masters, as soon as they realized I was OK, went back down to finish the dive while I remained on the surface! a great perspective to see my dive buddies enjoying the sea bottom. Diving is a non! solo sport. Your dive buddy is there to make sure you’ re OK, and that you make it to the surface alive and well! The last dive, I looked up and saw another incident! a diver was sharing his air to one who needed it. Nothing serious, but it was a sight to see! a dive buddy committed to another’ s safety and well! being!