The sun's beam landed on our faces as early as 5:30 am accompanied by the dry yet cool Saturday morning breeze. That's when I knew it's the perfect day to go out of the house, travel some 40 kilometers and test my spine's strength after almost two months of zero freediving activity.
My boyfriend and I took our time as our agreed meet-up time with my friends at Kuya Jom's Crib is not until 10 am yesterday. We're traveling in GB's motorcycle and according to him it's only a little over 1 hour of travel. My friends were with us. As always Jelo's there and now, we have a new recruit, John. Jelo's a freelancer and John's a banker. We all work under certain levels of stress and we always make time to unwind and catch-up. That's why I'm beyond happy when John finally gave in to my "You should try freediving, I'll arrange everything for you (I meant the intro class)" after almost a year of convincing.
Unfortunately, because of the recurrence my spine injury last March, he had to wait for two months before he could freedive again after his introduction class last February. Told him to dive again with Jelo while I'm recuperating but they're clinging that they wanted me to be there. All the more reasons and pressure to get well fast! I told them to give me at least a month to heal. Well actually I was just bluffing when I said it. One month's a short time for my spine to heal well at least to regain power and strength enough for me to slowly go back to doing what I love to do including running, exercising and freediving. With series of physical therapies, lots of hot compress and hot baths, day after day of stretching and tons of prayers, my spine finally made it. It's not perfect; I still feel a compression, ache and tenderness in my lower back after sitting long hours in the office or standing hours or doing riding motorcycles for too long, but life must go on. Okay, enough of my spine taking over this post.
John and Jelo arrived earlier but they waited for us. My boyfriend and I arrived at 10. We waisted no time and plunged into the waters of Catmon. It was John's first time in Catmon and his first fun dive after intro class. We made sure he'd see the best part of Catmon's underwater world but we found it difficult at first to find the best part. But not long, GB and Jelo found it and there we were all happy to see it again.
We had lunch at past 12 noon and went back diving at 3 PM again . The ocean was so calm and it was a hightide by then. It was a perfect day indeed for a freediving session. It felt so great doing one of the things I love doing. Now my back's been aching but very manageable. I'm expecting worse actually but just glad this is the only pain I got. I hope to dive soon, as for my back well, I'll fake it til I make it. 😁
