KIRSTYANDREWS
Visualise the prize
The freedom to go diving is so nearly upon us , Kirsty Andrews can almost taste it
Fun-filled diving anecdotes can ring a bit hollow , when , like most of you , I ’ ve been hunkered down at home for several months , trying to keep the dust off my diving gear . I ’ ve accumulated enough tall tales over the years to keep these pages full for a while yet , but I ’ d love to be collecting some new ones ! As I write this , though , I ’ m filled with a cautious optimism . The ‘ Roadmap to recovery ’ has been laid out . Those divers lucky enough to live by the sea may already be smugly filling in their 2021 logbook entries ; I hope that I may have felt salt water on my face by the time this column goes out . I didn ’ t think I ’ d be writing a ‘ first dives of the season ’ column for the May edition , but here we are .
There ’ s a physical and practical prediving season checklist that can be useful in preparing our equipment for its initial dunking . I ’ ve serviced my regs . I occasionally wax my drysuit zip and check that I can still fit into it ( it ’ s a close call ). I charge my torch batteries every now and then , and I ’ ve ordered those missing little bits and pieces that I somehow mislaid on the last trip . If my gear were sentient it would be perplexed by such irregular but loving attentions .
Then there ’ s a question of mental preparation . I recently read some articles aimed at elite athletes on how to use downtime productively . I ’ m quite thankful that diving isn ’ t an elite sport and if it were , I would be unlikely to be considered an elite sportsperson . However , there are parallels to be drawn and tips to embrace .
In particular I am drawn to the power of visualisation . I can ’ t dive yet , but I can picture myself diving ; I can run through skills and drills in my mind , react to scenarios and ensure I am mentally ready . If it ’ s good enough to get Michael Phelps 23 Olympic gold medals , it ’ s good enough for me . Although my buddies would not thank me for acting like Michael Phelps in the water , and I doubt my underwater photography would be improved either .
Apparently the key to success here is to use all your senses . Don ’ t just daydream about drifting through clear waters ; visualise what would you see , hear , feel , smell and taste during your dive experience . You won ’ t have a chance to practise basic skills in the swimming pool yet , but you can run through them mentally and give yourself confidence that if you need to react , you ’ ve practised as best you can .
Another mental aspect of diving we can still find time for is the planning side . Has the enforced break from diving brought you any clarity as to what diving means to you ? Is it merely the welcoming friendly embrace of our diving club mates that you long for ? Carpe diem ! Is there a qualification that you ’ ve been half-heartedly headed for and never quite ticked off ? Now is the time to get it done ! After months of enforced lockdown , are you feeling the need to spread your wings ? Perhaps it ’ s time to plan an expedition to that far-flung destination you ’ ve always wanted to visit , whether that be the Lizard peninsula , or ( whisper it ) actual swimming lizards in the Galapagos …? We might need to wait a little longer for that one , but it ’ ll be worth it . �
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