In November 2023, my girlfriend (who is now my wife) and I decided we wanted to try something new together. The options on the table were skydiving, skiing, or diving — three very different ways to add some adventure to our routine.
We ended up choosing Deep Dive Dubai, mostly out of curiosity. It looked like a cool place, and the idea of visiting the deepest pool in the world was simply too tempting to skip. When we got there, we were instantly impressed — it wasn’t just a pool, it was an entire underwater world built for divers.
I still remember the exact moment the spark appeared in her eyes when she said, “Alex, I want.” That was it — no hesitation. We booked our PADI Open Water course on the spot, starting the very next day. That evening, we went home and opened our laptops for the e-learning. It took us about six or seven hours to go through everything, but we were too excited to stop.
The next day, we met our instructor, Ericson — calm, composed, patient, and always ready to help. We began with the theory session, and soon after, we were already in the water. At first, we used the classic jacket-style BCD, going through the basic skills and drills. Later, we switched to the wing-style BCD, and everything suddenly felt natural and balanced.
That was the first and last time I ever dived using a jacket BCD — without realizing it then, that switch to a wing systembecame the foundation for everything I do in diving today.
My girlfriend struggled a bit with some of the mask clearing exercises, but she never gave up. I still remember her determination — that “one more try” attitude — and the huge smile on her face when she finally got it right. During one of our lunch breaks, we even joked that 18 meters felt way too deep, and we’d be perfectly happy staying around 9 or 10 meters. Funny how perspective changes over time.
We completed all the standard PADI Open Water skills and earned our certifications at Deep Dive Dubai. At that moment, we were already dreaming about diving in the Maldives.
Looking back now, what stands out most is how well Ericson taught the course — calm, methodical, and professional. He managed to make us fall in love with diving, not just pass a certification. The facilities at Deep Dive Dubai were exceptional, easily among the best in the world, and I truly appreciate how they start students on the right equipment and configuration from day one. We even trained using a long-hose regulator setup, except for the first day when we used the standard recreational octopus and jacket combination.
In hindsight, that first course was the perfect start. It gave me the fundamentals I still rely on today — comfort, control, and curiosity.
That’s how it all started.
