My First Fun Dive

What’s Next After Learning to Dive?

So, what’s next? Learn how to dive—checked. Now you might wonder, what’s left to do? What’s the fun in diving? Sure, anyone can complete a course and learn something new, but it’s the consistent practice that makes you better at what you’ve just learned. That’s something I keep hearing from others—they tell me I need to dive more, practice more, and, most importantly, “work on your buoyancy.”

The Importance of Buoyancy for Beginner Divers

As a beginner diver, I was slowly realizing just how important buoyancy really is. It’s not just about looking cool underwater (though that’s a bonus); it’s about controlling your breathing, staying calm when things get tricky, and moving your body exactly how you want to. Honestly, when you’re new to diving, feeling like a clumsy jellyfish is part of the process—but that’s where buoyancy comes to the rescue.

No Diving Buddy? Build a Community!

But wait—what if you don’t have a buddy? No one to dive with? That was exactly my situation… until my dive instructor stepped in. He noticed there were plenty of us without a diving buddy, so he created a group to bring us all together. Suddenly, we had a community, and dive trips became something to look forward to with new friends by our side.

Joining the Group: From Excited to Intimidated

Here’s a fun side-story. When we were first invited to the group, we were shy but curious—it’s always a little nerve-wracking meeting new people. Still, the idea of connecting with other divers and gaining experience together had us pretty excited. That excitement didn’t last long, though. Turns out, for the first diving trip my instructor organized, everyone else in the group was either an experienced diver, a dive master, or even an instructor. Talk about intimidating! We went from curious to absolutely scared out of our minds. Honestly, we were so reluctant to join—scared-shitless, to put it bluntly, haha. But after a quick pep talk with my instructor, I decided to take the plunge and join anyway.

My First Fun Dive with Mad Dive Charter

For my first fun dive, our group joined a local dive charter called Mad Dive. Now, most dive charters have been around for a while, so their equipment is often a bit worn out, and they tend to be less strict with their rules. But to my surprise, Mad Dive was the total opposite. They were incredibly well-prepared, highly organized, and very strict about their rules—and honestly, that’s a great thing. It meant safer dives and top-notch equipment for us to rent.

Exploring Ninepin Island: A Popular Dive Spot

As we prepped our gear, the charter took us to a popular diving spot in Hong Kong called Ninepin Island, also known as Kwo Chau Island. This spot is pretty remote—about an hour-and-a-half boat ride to get there—and it’s known for being windy with strong currents. For new divers, this means you need to stay extra cautious and focused during your dive.

Why Ninepin Island is a Favorite Among Divers

So, why is this place so popular among dive sites in Hong Kong? Well, Hong Kong’s waters are home to a surprisingly diverse range of coral and fish species. The only downside? Visibility here is often pretty low. The loose bottom composition makes it easy to stir up sediment, which clouds the water. That’s why it takes a bit of experience to know where the best diving spots are.

For this trip, we planned to dive in the area between Ninepin Island’s North and South islands. This spot features a reef channel that locals affectionately call the “Underwater Garden.” That’s what we were hoping to explore—and let’s just say, the name alone had us excited!

Learning from the Pros: Diving with Experts

As it turns out, even experienced divers and instructors need to practice their skills regularly. While they’ve mastered buoyancy control, there’s always room to refine their technique. When we arrived at the dive spot, the charter was already rocking back and forth with the waves. Without wasting any time, we geared up and dove in as a group of four: my instructor, a dive master, another experienced diver, and me.

What It’s Like Being a Beginner Diver

For most of the dive, I stuck close to my instructor as he guided me around. I was still in the “learning phase,” trying to take in everything and make sense of what I was seeing. Here’s the thing about being a beginner diver—sometimes, you have no idea what you’re looking at. The underwater environment can be tricky to interpret, especially since the water absorbs certain wavelengths of light, washing out the colors of objects and fish. Everything starts to look a bit… the same.

That said, I was still able to spot a few recognizable species, like lionfish, scorpionfish, and blue-swimming crabs. Seeing these creatures up close was thrilling and kept me motivated to improve my skills and understand more of this underwater world.

The Takeaways from My First Fun Dive

Ultimately, by the end of this dive, I gained a clearer understanding of what I need to work on to improve my skills. Buoyancy, awareness, and staying calm are just the beginning of this incredible journey. What excites me even more is the potential fun, joy, and sense of purpose I can build as I continue exploring the underwater world.

One key takeaway from this dive is how crucial the right gear is. Having the proper equipment doesn’t just make a difference in comfort—it directly impacts what you can do underwater. This experience has given me a better idea of what I need to invest in to make each dive safer and more enjoyable.

What’s Next in My Diving Journey?

Diving has a way of challenging and inspiring you all at once, and I can’t wait to see where this adventure takes me next.

Have you had a similar moment of realization or an unforgettable diving experience? I’d love to hear your stories—feel free to message me and share!