Just Like Riding A Bike

 
I've been diving since 1994, when I first got certified as a PADI Open Water Diver. And I've been diving regularly since then. Although I've done a piss poor job of logging all of my dives. However, 2009 was a really dry year for me literally. Office related matters often found themselves extending to my weekends and numerous hurdles at work kept my mind preoccupied that I could not squeeze in a single dive into the year. So I was not able to dive at all and I swore 2010 would be different. The weekend of March 6 and 7 I got a break in my schedule and was finally able to join my instructor, the person who annointed me a divemaster, and lifelong friend, Roger Manibo in a fun dive.  And it was just like riding a bike. You never forget. I did four dives for the weekend and I'm so glad to have my sea legs or more appropriately my fins back. My buoyancy did not deteriorate and I could still hover over the reefs, not to mention, my air consumption improved as well considering my year long hiatus. I'd normally start with a 3000 psi tank and would consume down to 500 psi on a usual 40 minute dive at 80 or so feet. My only complaint was during my 2nd, 3rd and 4th dives. I experienced some pain in my nasal cavity extending up to my eye socket and forehead.  This made it difficult for me to go down to depth at my usual rate and I had to take it slowly going down. And even then, the pain was borderline unbearable and no matter what I did (equalized, replaced and cleared my dive mask, exhaled out my nose etc etc) didn't work.  The pain eventually subsided after a few minutes but I had to stay back and shallower from the pack. I suspect I may have had a head cold, causing the pain.  Other than that, the dives were non eventfull in a good way. We stayed at Outrigger Resort, one of our old scuba haunts. Miguel, an old dive buddy, is now running the place. Was able to catch up on old times with old friends as well as meet a few new ones. Hopefully I get to log more dives for this year.