Sue Richards Diving Story
Sue Richards’s personal account, first published in November 2021.
I was very lucky to have the opportunity to take a scuba lesson in a swimming pool while on holiday in Cyprus in 2017. If I am honest, I was not so keen, but my boyfriend loved it and wanted to try it in the sea the following day. After much discussion, I finally agreed to go, and I’m really glad I did. It was a different instructor, and he gave us a better experience than I had in the pool. The thing that first amazed me was being weightless in the water. It was a really nice feeling, and seeing all the fish and the sea from a different perspective was the highlight of the trip.
Guess what happened next? My boyfriend talked me into doing the Open Water Course, and I was really glad I gave in. It’s a very rewarding certification, and I really enjoyed doing the course over the next three days. After the course, I fell in love with scuba. When we went back to England, I tried diving a couple of times there, but it was not for me. I didn’t like how cold the water was, and I didn’t feel there was enough to see. The following year, we went to Greece and again booked some diving through the hotel. It was great to see new things. It was the first time I had seen a turtle, and it made my heart melt. It also made me realise why I really liked scuba diving, so I started to do a little more research about it and the best places to go.
In 2019, we booked to go to Hurghada in Egypt. This is where I met Steve. We met on a scuba boat, dived in a group with him and spent a lot of time talking. Steve was so enthusiastic about diving, and I loved diving with him for a week. He told us how he was going to move to Egypt and set up a diving centre. We kept in touch and booked to come out in early 2020 to dive with Steve. We had a great two weeks. He took us to sites we had never visited before and got us to do our PADI Advanced Course. To say I was very nervous about diving deeper was an understatement, but Steve really helped calm me down and made me feel at ease. I think many people get a little worried about diving, as it’s something new, but finding a good instructor makes such a difference.
My first experience was not great, but I’m really glad I tried it again. If I were to recommend the best place to dive, it would be Egypt, and I would certainly suggest speaking to Steve at Dive UK Hurghada. He has a great setup, and I really like that he only takes small groups and gives his customers his full attention. Egypt has a really good selection of dive sites, and the big bonus is the chance to see dolphins and turtles, as well as lots of different fish.
If you are not sure about scuba diving, just give it a go. You really won’t be disappointed. I would suggest it to anybody, even children.
A reply from Dive UK Hurghada
Thanks for writing your story, Sue. We really appreciate it. Many people who have not tried scuba diving before are nervous. What matters is who you choose to take you for the first time. At Dive UK Hurghada, we like to explain every step and go through all the equipment with you, helping you feel comfortable and know what to expect. Our Try Scuba Experience is all about you: introducing you to scuba slowly and giving you a great experience. We take things slowly and explain each step. We also introduce you to the water gradually, so you feel comfortable at every stage.
We hope the day will be something you remember for the rest of your life. If you enjoy your scuba experience, you can continue with the PADI Open Water Course. Scuba diving in Hurghada can be very addictive, and once you start, you may not want to stop. Remember, around 70% of the world is covered by water, so there is plenty to explore.
