My earliest encounter with the sea dates back to when I was just six years old. It was during my trips to Mindoro, where my mom’s uncle, Lolo Ramon, and sometimes my aunt, my mom’s cousin, Tita Cel, would tag me along (may both of them rest in peace). Mindoro, specifically the eastern part known as Oriental Mindoro, held a special place in my heart. My visits centered around Bongabong, the town where my mom grew up and where Lolo Ramon and his family owned a rice mill.
My first impressions of the sea were a mixture of awe and trepidation. I marveled at the vibrant hues of the shallow waters and the creatures visible beneath its surface. Yet, the mysterious depths, cloaked in darkness, instilled a sense of fear within me. During our voyages between Mindoro and Batangas, Lolo Ramon or Tita Cel would indulge my curiosity by letting me peer over the side of the ship. As I gazed into the abyss below, I couldn’t shake the unsettling feeling that something lurked beneath, watching me with unseeing eyes.
As I grew older, my fear of the ocean, known as thalassophobia, intensified. I imagined sinister creatures lurking in the depths, waiting to drag me down into the abyss. However, my perception began to shift as I encountered images of coral reefs and intrepid divers exploring the ocean’s hidden wonders. These glimpses into the sea’s beauty helped assuage my fears, laying the groundwork for a transformative experience.
My journey towards overcoming thalassophobia, a fear associated with the ocean and other large bodies of water reached a turning point when the team of Amazing Batangas and Balisong Channel received an invitation to Divescape Hub in Barangay Pagkilatan, Batangas City. Alongside my brother James Rieta, CEO of Balisong Channel, and our manager Ella Rivero, We took a freediving lesson and training session during our company’s team building event. Under the guidance of experienced instructors Kat Medes and Janna Mendoza, we learned the fundamentals of freediving, from breath-holding to relaxation techniques.
During our time at Divescape Hub, a freediving school in Batangas City founded by Master Freediver and Mermaid Instructor, Anica Chan and Master Diver Jet Paz, I was granted a firsthand glimpse into the breathtaking world that lay beneath the ocean’s surface. No longer confined to the realm of photographs and videos, I encountered a menagerie of marine life: vibrant corals, graceful sea turtles, and curious schools of fish. With each dive, my fear dissolved, replaced by an overwhelming sense of excitement and wonder.
As I look ahead to the future, I eagerly anticipate returning to Divescape Hub to continue my freediving journey. With each lesson, I inch closer to becoming a certified freediver, empowered to explore the boundless beauty of the sea—a realm that once filled me with dread, now a source of endless fascination and joy.
