Featuring Women in Diving
I was super excited to do my scuba course. After hearing and seeing all the amazing experiences that others had underwater, I couldn't wait to start my journey.
The Open Water Diver Course requires a medical check-up. I didn't think much of it, it's just standard procedure. The doctor heard a noise in my heart and declared me unfit to dive. He told me that just a week before, there was a case where he heard the same noise in another patient, and she ended up being diagnosed with PFO (Patent Foramen Ovale). This means that there is a small opening between the two upper chambers of the heart. The opening normally closes soon after birth, but in some people, it doesn't. This opening makes it dangerous to dive as it cannot handle the pressure, and can cause an air embolism.
After sharing the devastating news with friends, they encouraged me to get a second opinion. The second doctor confirmed it could most possibly be PFO via sonar scans. Not willing to give up on my dream to be able to breathe underwater I visited a medical expert Dr. Frans Cronje, the founder of DAN Southern Africa. He referred me to a cardiologist Dr. Wouter Basson. There, several tests were done, and finally, he and his team could rule out PFO as a diagnosis. Dr. Basson said the noise heard by the first doctor was mistaken for strong blood flow.
And so it began!
I went on a dive tour to Sodwana Bay just after completing my Open Water certification. I was hooked! There were some buoyancy issues I had to figure out (as all newbies usually do), but with every dive, it improved.
From the colorful fish of the Isimangaliso Wetland Park to the calm drift dives of Mafia Island and experiencing the sharks of Protea Banks, there was never a dull moment. Not even the open ocean with its 3m swells in Umkomaas could scare me away. Tour after tour, my passion for the sea and everything in it grew bigger. I fell in love with Cape Town's colorful reefs and macro creatures, the magical kelp forests, and inquisitive seals.
As time passed, I continued my diving education by completing 5 PADI specialties. At the PADI Rescue Course, I had a mind shift. I was no longer diving just for myself. I felt confident and competent in the water. This not only makes me more aware of other divers and their safety, but also makes me realize that I want to become a dive professional.
Becoming a PADI Pro
I loved doing the PADI Dive Master Course. Being able to take the lead, guide people on dives, assist the Instructor, and be behind the scenes prepping everything. Our Instructor is informative and very thorough; he made sure we're prepared for literally anything. I enjoy sharing my love for the ocean with others.
I will be forever thankful to two people in my life who made this dream possible. Pushing me to be the best diver I can be, helping with doctor bills and dive gear. Marius & Madelein Wolfaardt, you truly are two in a million!
The next step for me will be becoming an Instructor. Welcoming new divers to the amazing underwater world.
Mari van Wyk
Images supplied by @sealife_madeleinwolf
www.madeleinwolf.co.za
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