Can you SCUBA dive in the rain?

Today we went to Fulong to do our first dives of the dive course. 

Initially we intended to do the two pool dives and then one (mayyyybe two) dive in the ocean. 

Things didn't go quite as planned. I had some trouble with one of the exercises which put us behind schedule. But honestly that wouldn't have made a difference because by the time we were even considering going in the ocean we realized that the rain made the conditions far to crappy for us to deal with. 

So it was a pool day, and that's fine by me.

Things of note: 

Breathing under water is not as easy as it might sound, especially for those of us who are not naturally mouth-breathers...

I was terrible at the one thing my sister said I would be really terrible at. I don't know if this was simply a self-fulfilling prophecy or what, but I do not like having to put water in my mask and then use my nose to get it all out.

That said, I am oddly calm underwater. I didn't panic much — I don't think, at least — and once we got into the"really" deep stuff — ahem, a whole three meters folks! — I didn't panic at all. I was weirdly chill. It's like I have an alternate, "under-water" personality.

Last, there is apparently such a thing as over-equalizing your ears. I did it. It hurt. Never. Ever. Again.

But now that I've gotten the initial shock out of the way and had a little time to reflect on it, I'm happy with it and I can't wait to get into the ocean. 

Next Sunday it's go time.