How underwater panic changed my perspective in Malaysia
When your dive master knows you better than your therapist
For this story, join me in Malaysia. Here, I was about to discover its incredible nature and wildlife - plus the birthday gift I never knew I needed.
Water fills my mask. I can't see. Can't breathe. Panic surges through my body as I fight the instinct to swim up for air.
But it’s too late. Gasping, I break the surface of the South China Sea.
Scuba diving is not for me. My inner critic is on overdrive: I've failed, again. I can't do this. I'll never master this.
How would I ever fulfil my dream of diving the Great Barrier Reef in Australia if I can't even get past one basic safety exercise?
This was not how I imagined my birthday treat in Malaysia would go.
