We got to do a couple of really cool things that we weren't expecting - like this chimney. The surge through it was difficult. It wanted to push us up and shoot us out the top. Changing depth was not my long suit (I really struggled with going down, especially), so I wasn't too keen on that part of it. But it was really awesome to get to swim so close to the rocks like that and get to this completely different side of the site.

We also got to do a couple of swim-throughs at this site. It had some rock formations that had gaps large enough for people to pass under and through. They were totally awesome, although I was glad our instructor was with us. At one point my tank hit a rock as I was swimming under it, and for a second I thought I was stuck. I wasn't really, at all, but it still made me think about what it would be like to be trapped in a wreck, or by coral or a rock.

As part of the certification process, we had to practice taking off our tanks and weight belts and putting them back on, so if I had been stuck, I probably could have done taken my tank off, and then gotten it un-stuck. No need this time!

Photo credit: Ryan Jones 2006