Come on Baby, Drive South - Part 1

originally published April 12, 2018

Turns out throwing up in the middle of the ocean isn't as bad as I'd expected. There I was, bobbing around in the surf, miles from shore, spewing my guts into the clear waters enveloping me. Fun fun. But... how did I get here? Let's backtrack a bit.

It had been a dry few months since I'd finished my advanced open water certification, after which had come the mayhem of the holidays. It may sound sad or cruel but I really can't deal with the holidays anymore. It's just pressure and obligation and stress. All the fun has been sucked out of it these last few years. I was looking forward to getting back in the water for some peace and quiet. Lucky for me, my dive shop was hosting a weekend scuba getaway in Key Largo in the Spring. Growing up in South Florida, I'd been to the Keys, of course but I hadn't been down there in at least 20 years. I eagerly signed up for the trip, booking myself on three dives of the five planned dives. Vacation: game on. 

I researched lodging (which can be quite expensive in Key Largo) and requested time off from work, eagerly marking the days off the calendar. Isabelle (who had completed her Divemaster training) would be going on the trip along with Will and a slew of other divers from the shop. She and I were chatting one night and she mentioned a similar trip they had done last year. 

"Getting back on the boat was crazy," she said. "We had four, five foot waves. I almost got slammed in the face with the ladder."

Wow. I hadn't thought about getting back *into the boat. Getting out was easy enough. One big step and, splash, you're in. But climbing back up a rolling ladder, in a swell, wearing 50 pounds of gear, with my shit knees? Dang. Anxiety Seed #1. 

And how about that surf? Five feet? Nooooo thanks. I get seasick. I'm fine as long as the boat is moving but once it stops, it's a one way ticket to Queasy Town. Anxiety Seed #2

From there it was a simple left turn into Panicsville. Would I be the oldest person on the trip? The least experienced? I've only dove in freshwater before, how will my buoyancy be? What if I get sick? How long will the boat ride be? It's allergy season, what if I can't equalize? Why do I have to over analyze every little thing? It's just part of who I am. I'm Worst Case Scenario Girl. 

And then, surprise! Guy moved back to town. Yup, he and the Usurper (the woman he and I broke up over) had called it quits - for good this time. I wasn't going to fool myself. I knew there was not going to be any grand romantic reconciliation between he and I. Those feelings just weren't there for him and I had to accept that. Part of me took twisted delight in seeing him go through all the emotional hell I had gone through over him, true, but it was bittersweet. It still hurts to see someone you care about suffering, even when they themselves inflicted that same suffering upon you. We started talking more frequently, falling back into old habits like going out to concerts and visiting local haunts we had frequented whilst dating. But it wasn't the same. It would never be the same. 

I told him about my upcoming trip. I had chosen an out of the ordinary spot for my stay - a 32 foot cruiser moored at a Key Largo marina. I liked the idea of something unique, it was in good proximity to the dive sites, and the cost was comparable to the hotels I had researched. The boat had two cabins so I let Guy know there was extra room if he wanted to come along. I couldn't promise him any diving - the shop trip was sold out - but it would be an opportunity to get away from it all for a few days. So, on Thursday we loaded our dive gear into Oscar, and headed south for five days of underwater adventure. 

Up next: Drive South - Part II - arriving in Key Largo, the U-Turn capital of the world!