Scapa scuba!

Today I faced my fears and went scuba diving!! Whej I saw it was something that I could do while I was here I thought that this seemed like a great opportunity to so something that I'm pretty terrified of. I got picked up at the cathedral and 9:30 and we headed out to the little bay where we were going. In true Orkney style it's in a sheep paddock, so a few times the sheep were a bit cheeky and came to see what was going on. When we got there we signed our lives away and started with our intro stuff. I was so nervous during the introduction I almost started crying, as much as I hate to admit it, so I wasn't holding out much hope that it was going to go smoothly. But when I came to be my turn I got suited up! So because we are so far north the water is obviously cold. So I was in a dry suit, something I also have never done. It was really weird getting into this full body with feet rubber suite thing with lube to get my hands out and it was like being born getting my head out of that thing. Basically i was stuck with my arms straight out in this thing, it was crazy. Then I hobbled down close to the water to put on my hood, gloves, weights, and tank. So dry suit diving is very different then being in a normal wet suit. It inflates and so does your backpack that has your tank also inflates so you float at the top and then need to be deflated for you to sink. Then I got my mask and went into the water to meet the instructor. He

Put my find on and then we did a little training session so make sure I knew how everything worked and everything was good. The only thing that I had a problem with was my mask so I got really good and clearing out the water from my mask since I think I have a weird face because masks never work on me. But ther than that it was really fun! I was able to equalize and I saw some sunken ship bits, crabs, a flat fish and little schools of fish! It turned into a really great day! There was sun, great people, I had a good time, sheep came out and it was really fun! They told me a few places off the west that have good diving so it's something I may try again! I'm really glad that I did it, though I did get a bit burned. Afterwards they dropped me back at the cathedral and I had lunch in town before heading back to the hostel to just chill. I'm totally knackered as it was a looong day, but great!