Choosing the Adventurous Route

As the longboat bounced off of the waves, I squinted my eyes while my face was met with salty mist. My stomach lurched. I was heading for my first dive - something I persuaded myself to do in an effort to step outside of my comfort zone. My nerves were getting the better of me.
We pulled up to the dive boat - a bright pink, wooden monstrosity. I climbed aboard, slipping on the metal ladder as the waves crashed against my feet, and the Thai crew members sniggered at my anxious expression.
We put our equipment on, stumbling around the deck as the boat rocked in the waves. My anxiety was perpetuated by nausea. I waddled to the edge of the deck - the weight of the tank throwing me off balance - and slipped my goggles on over my eyes... The turquoise water was rocking below me. I felt that lurching feeling again and turned my eyes towards the shore...
"No. You can do this"
I inched my way to the very edge, feeling a little uneasy on my new flippered feet. I held my breath, pushed the butterflies down, and jumped. That warm turquoise greeted me eagerly. We regrouped on the surface – our instructor made sure we were all ready – and we had the okay to deflate our BC’s. I felt myself sinking, becoming submerged in an entirely new world.
I’d always loved the water, but whenever I thought about scuba diving there was always something holding me back - A feeling. I was afraid.
When we touched the bottom, I looked up to the surface. It seemed so far away now. I met my instructors gaze, he was so at ease, why was I still so nervous? He gave us the signal to put some air in our vests, and I felt it – zero gravity. One of the few ways that people get to experience this.
I floated there, effortlessly, for a moment. That’s when it happened – two angel fish swam curiously towards my fins and began to chase them. My laughter blinded my vision with a swarm of bubbles.
What had I been so afraid of? It hit me; those nerves, my butterflies... they weren’t out of fear. That feeling that was holding me back all of this time – Taking the plunge was going to completely change my life. I looked around again, soaking in the beautiful scene that I had never experienced before – I was home.