Damn, I sounded like Darth Vader breathing

[Take That - Holding Back The Tears]

Ah-ha! I have been looking forward to today for a very long time, probably ever since I set my mind on learning scuba diving years ago. You see, today I'd finally got to put on all the scuba gear and breathed through the regulator (instead of a snorkel). When I inhale the compress oxygen, images of my younger days at TTSH appeared in my mind.

When I was much younger like probably 2 and/or 3 years old, I would get asthma attacks in the middle of the night and my dad would send me to TTSH for treatment. Note that back then, it was the old, dusty TTSH, very much unlike the new air-conditioned one that sits on the site right now. There, I would be given a mask which is attached to the Nebulizer" and Ventolin would be administered via the machine. I'd always remember how the nurses would try and make me see my phlegm through the tubes but for some reason I'd never be able to spot 'em. And because the entire process takes time, I always felt lonely and secretly wished that someone would chat with me. At the end of the treatment, on my way home, I'd always lie across the backseats of the car and watch the street lights zoom by. ANYWAY...

Back to the topic, I guess it's the sound the regulator makes when I inhale and that taste of oxygen in my mouth that reminded me of that. But once you submerge, it's a whole new story.

I was a 'lil wary of breathing out from the regulator initially and I sorta like exhaled though my nose, which was wrong of course since I'm wearing a mask. As the class proceeded, I could feel the reality of me diving in a reef was drawing closer. I was really excited. The whole week I've been looking forward to this class! Actually, I was so excited that I arrived 1/2 hour earlier for class unknowingly. Cock right?

However, nothing much was taught today. Guess the pace for this 13-weeks-long class is pretty slow compared to the 1-week-long ones in Singapore. Hope Greg (the chief instructor) will teach more on Tuesday then come Thursday, we can have more to practice in the pool!