I had my first taste of jumping from a diving board into a 15 feet pool! Yeah!

Fifteen minutes into the class, while we floated around in the shallow pool, scissor-kicking and stuff, Mary surprised us by saying that we were going to be moving to the West side pool and jumping from the diving boards! There was obviously apprehension and sounds of nervousness around the pool. After all we have been trying to learn swimming only for 6 weeks! Are we ready for the deep pool? What if?

There were at least 10 trained lifeguards-cum-swimming assistants in the west-pool when we got there. We entered the water, crawling along the walls, holding on for dear life.  We did a few drills in the deep pool preparing ourselves for the actual jump.  This included pulling up along the wall, taking a deep breath and letting go!  It takes a few seconds, maybe 4 sec or less, for the person to surface back up. While we took turns at letting go and cheered our classmates along, there were two lifeguard assistants in the water with each student. This drill got done pretty fast or so it seemed!  This exercise helped me prepare mentally and got me ready for the bigger plunge!

We moved to business and took turns at the two diving boards on the west side of the pool.  The first brave lady, did her first jump. It was, what Mary called, a belly flop.  I am sure we were all clumsy in our own way. Many of the students walked to the end of the plank only to reverse back scared. But very soon, most of us had our first taste of a jump into the deep pool. I had done what I had not thought I could and am very proud of it! It had a lot to do with the thought that there were half a dozen wonderful lifeguards around in the water when I jumped! They are really wonderful people, very encouraging and flexible. I did five jumps.

Still a while to go to be able to swim and master the art of breathing normally. Slowly but surely I will get there. For now, I bask in my own glory!