Search and Recovery
I just did the most amazing PADI Search and Recovery mission with my brilliant instructor Ellie, and I can't wait to tell you all about it! We did some super cool things like lifting heavy objects, using ropes and nets, and searching for hidden items in the pool. Oh, and I had to find things all by myself – it was SO exciting!
- Lifting with the Plastic Lift Bag
The first thing we did was learn how to lift heavy objects from underwater using a plastic lift bag. We put air into the bag by squeezing it, and then Ellie showed me how to make the air go into the bag using a special octopus (that’s the funny name for the air regulator!). The octopus squeezed and pushed the air into the bag, and then the bag started floating! It was super cool to watch the bag rise to the top, but what was even cooler was that it had a heavy metal ring at the bottom to keep it sunk in the first place. Ellie explained that this is how we can safely lift things from the bottom of the sea, like sunken treasure!
- Learning to Use Ropes and Nets
Next, Ellie taught me how to use ropes and nets underwater. She showed me how to tie them and how to use them to carry objects or keep things in place if they’re too heavy to lift easily. It was like being a little underwater engineer, and I felt really clever using the ropes to secure things!
- The Search Challenge
Then, it was time for the big search challenge! Ellie threw three objects into the pool: a metal spoon and a couple of plastic rings. I had to use everything I’d learned and find these items by myself! It was like a mini treasure hunt! I went down and used my hands to feel around the pool floor. The spoon was tricky to find because it was metal, but I knew to search carefully because it could be hiding! After a little bit of diving and feeling around, I found everything!
The whole experience was amazing, and I felt like a real underwater adventurer, just like the professionals. It was so cool to watch things float, use the ropes, and recover hidden objects! Ellie was such a great teacher, and I had so much fun learning new skills.