Taming the lizard brain

The “lizard brain” is a term I use to describe the “old” part of the brain. The part that triggers the four “F”s of the limbic system

• fight
• flight
• feeding
• reproduction

An example:

Take a large human male, wrap him in neoprene, stick a big metal tank full of air on his back, slap a bunch of weight on him, cram a hunk of rubber, plastic and metal into his mouth, connected to said tank by a TEENY TINY RUBBER HOSE, submerge him in sea water and tell him

BREATHE NORMALLY

The lizard brain is the part of you brain that says

BREATHE NORMALLY? BREATHING NORMALLY does NOT involve all this equipment and it CERTAINLY doesn’t involve breathing UNDERWATER. GET TO THE SURFACE YOU MORON!! NOW!!

Heh.

I received PADI’s Open Water Diver certification about 11 years ago.

I never used it after that.

About 1.5 years ago, we went to Dahab, on the Gulf of Aqaba (part of the Red Sea) in Egypt.

I did a dive.

I did not particularly enjoy it.

My lizard brain was kicking and screaming.

I kept looking at my gauges and wondering “can I go back on shore now?”

I was pretty bummed out about it. Cause I “wanted” to enjoy diving. But it just wasn’t working for me. I did a few more dives and was never really happy about it.

Time goes by.

Another trip to Dahab. Another dive. This time was better, but still not really enjoyable. It was OK.

Another trip to Dahab. Another dive. I had a good time on this dive and actually enjoyed myself. While it would be a great stretch to say that I was “comfortable”, I was more relaxed and not fixated on the fact that

ALL MY AIR IS COMING THROUGH THIS LITTLE HOSE AND THERE ARE ABOUT A MILLION THINGS THAT CAN GO WRONG.

Hardly thought about that part of it all.

After that dive I realized I had conquered my fears and enjoyed myself. I had gotten back on the horse camel that had thrown me and proved to myself that I could do it.

So what’s next?

One thought that went through my mind was

Ok, you can do it. You conquered your fear. It is no longer bugging you. Declare victory and pull out.

In other words, I had nothing left to prove. I could retire from diving on a high note.

I mean it is a hassle.

It is a lot of heavy gear. It requires expensive equipment. Suiting up is a laborious process. And there is an undeniable amount of danger involved

If I want inconvenience, expense and danger, I can go motorcycling.

(It is a lot of heavy gear. It requires expensive equipment. Suiting up is a laborious process. And there is an undeniable amount of danger involved.)

Right? I don’t need scuba.

Snorkeling is fun too. Cheaper, less dangerous, much less gear required.

When we left Dahab last time (in July) that was my thinking: I am done. khallas.

We are back in Dahab for the month of August. We have a little apartment with a view of the sea and Wi-Fi. I am working and generally just enjoying living 2 blocks from the beach.

What have I been doing in my spare time?

I must not fear.
Fear is the mind-killer.
Fear is the little-death that brings total obliteration.
I will face my fear.
I will permit it to pass over me and through me.
And when it has gone past I will turn the inner eye to see its path.
Where the fear has gone there will be nothing.
Only I will remain.

I am now a certified Advance Open Water Diver.

A big thank you to Kasia, Pritesh, Shadi, Khaled and all the other great people at Sinai Divers, Backpackers Dahab.