Swimming with the fishes

I'm going swimming this afternoon for the first time since I can't remember when (apart from the dip I took after a sauna in Finland in June, in a decidedly chilly lake). It's not because I like swimming pools - I loathe them and the chlorine that infests them, the damp march back and forth to the changing rooms, the verrucas, the sheer indignity of the whole proceeding - but I've finally made the decision to learn scuba diving.

I've wanted to dive for ever. I tried a "taster" class a few years back and had a panic attack because I was trying to breathe through my nose and all the air available was what was in my mask. It's very counter-intuitive, for me at least, to breathe in the water: I spent a lot of my childhood seeing how far I could swim underwater without having to come up for air (my record was 2 lengths of the pool). But I'm determned to crack that. I want to swim with the fishes! I went on one of those boats with underwater windows last summer and the views of fish, sponges, underwater rock formations and the rest rekindled my longing, and now I'm going to stop dreaming and start training.

In order to train with my local club you have to be able to swim 8 lengths. Doesn't sound like much, but I have no idea whether I can do it or not. Training starts in October, so I've time to get fit, but best find out in good time, I thought, so I'm off now to find out...

2 hours later: it wasn't very much - I did 12 lengths, no trouble. That's a relief! The only bit that aches is the outside of my hands, from 12 lengths of breast-stroke. Oh, and I need to get some goggles so I don't have to keep my eyes out of the chlorine and give myself neck-ache. It was warmer and much cleaner than my memories of swimming pools past, and the showers really worked, too. Altogether not the chore I was expecting ;-)

Moral: face your fears and do it anyway - and start early enough that you can do something to solve any problem that crops up. Or something like that! Same with deadlines, I guess...