On the 29th of September 2026, I had the exciting opportunity to assist with my first Discover Scuba Diving session at the Selwyn Aquatic Centre in Rolleston. It was a busy and tiring day, but it was also one of the most rewarding experiences I have had in scuba diving so far.
The experience actually began the day before, when we packed all of the scuba diving equipment at Dive HQ. There was a lot to organise, and we had to make sure we had everything required for the different parts of the session. The next day, we travelled from Dive HQ to the Selwyn Aquatic Centre and set up all the equipment before the first group arrived. Seeing everything ready to go made me even more excited to get started.
When the first group arrived, our main instructor, Bec, gave them an initial briefing. We then helped everyone find the correct size fins and masks before assisting them with their BCDs. Once they were ready, we gave them another briefing in the water, explaining how their equipment worked and how to equalise their ears while underwater. Once everyone was comfortable and confident, we split into smaller groups and began the fun part.
I had two girls in my first group. We descended into the pool and started exploring, swimming through the hoops and getting used to being underwater. We also played paper, scissors, rock and a game of tag, which made the experience really fun and helped them become more comfortable with their equipment. Before long, it was time to finish up and prepare for the next group.
For the second group, I had two sisters. After descending, we went for a swim around the pool. I noticed that the younger sister was ascending too quickly because she was using her inflator hose to control her ascent. I stopped her and explained how to properly control her ascent. After practising, she understood what she needed to do and was able to ascend correctly every time after that. It was really rewarding to see her improve so quickly. We then swam through the hoops and raced around the pool to find different objects, turning the session into a fun challenge.
After that, we waited for the final group of eight people to arrive. We completed both briefings, fitted their masks and fins, and then got straight into the water. This group was particularly fun and enthusiastic. The girls wanted to practise clearing their masks, so I explained how to do it and demonstrated the process. We then descended, and they had a go themselves. They didn’t quite manage it the first time, but instead of giving up, they kept trying until they were able to do it. Seeing their determination and excitement when they finally succeeded was one of my favourite parts of the day. It was also amazing to see how proud their parents were of them.
Overall, assisting with my first Discover Scuba Diving session was an awesome experience. It gave me the chance to share my skills and knowledge with people who were experiencing scuba diving for the very first time. Although the day was exhausting, it was incredibly rewarding. I enjoyed meeting new people, helping them learn new skills, and watching their confidence grow throughout each session.
The best part was seeing the excitement on their faces when they realised they could actually do things underwater that they had never tried before. Being able to play a small part in giving someone their first experience of scuba diving made all the hard work worthwhile. This experience has made me even more excited to continue developing my own diving skills and helping others discover how amazing the underwater world can be.
