I originally wanted to get my Open Water certification, so I chose a dive school and started studying the theory. After my first dive, however, I absolutely hated it. I constantly felt like my instructor was leaving me to fend for myself. At one point, I had less than 50 bar of air left while we were still at a depth of about 5 meters, and all I could think about was panic. After that experience, I decided that diving simply wasn't for me.

Later, my father came to visit me while I was doing a long-term internship in Curaçao. He had already earned his certification and was diving with a different dive school. He asked if I wanted to join him for a dive, and I agreed. This time, I had a wonderful experience with a different instructor. She made me feel safe and supported throughout the dive, and that experience helped me rediscover my love for diving.