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Release Date: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 6am
Last updated: Wednesday, August 14, 2024 at 7:48 AM
Hamda Al Mansoori, a 42-year-old diver from the United Arab Emirates, has been pushing the limits of a sport she took up out of boredom during the COVID-19 pandemic.
“During lockdown, I was feeling depressed and wanted to explore either the sky or the bottom of the earth,” she recalled. “Then I saw a video about diving and decided to take the plunge.”
From her first session in the pool to her first open water dive, Hamda was fascinated by the underwater world. “The moment I put the oxygen regulator in my mouth, I was mesmerized. I couldn’t speak, but I could just look around and feel the peace and tranquility of this different environment,” she told Khaleej Times.
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Pushing the limits
Driven by curiosity to explore beyond the recreational diving limit of 40 metres, Hamda embarked on a rigorous training regime to master technical diving.
“I kept asking myself: ‘What’s there at the end of 40 metres?’ I knew I had to push my limits and learn how to manage gas consumption and other technical aspects,” she explained.
In just three years, Hamda not only became a technical diver, but also qualified as an instructor and became a master instructor. “It was my dream to dive to 100 meters with my friend and instructor Ahmed Al Mazmi, so I was determined to reach this level as soon as possible,” she said. Sadly, Ahmed passed away in a car accident, and Hamda was determined to honour his memory by making their shared dream come true.
“After Ahmed passed away, I thought about quitting diving altogether, but my friends encouraged me to continue, saying I was one of the best in the field,” Hamda recalls. “That’s when I decided to become an instructor, not just a technical diver, to carry on Ahmed’s legacy and teach others the skills he had taught me.”
Hamda’s journey has not been without challenges. The risks associated with technical diving, such as managing gas consumption and navigating high-pressure environments, require careful planning and execution. “There are a lot of formulas and calculations to take into account,” she explains. “You need to know exactly how much air you consume in each breath and plan your dives according to the rule of thirds to be safe.”
In technical diving, the 1/3 rule (dividing the total gas supply into three) ensures that a diver has enough gas for descent, return and emergency.
Despite the dangers of diving, Hamda’s passion for the sport and desire to push the boundaries of human exploration has led him to reach incredible depths. In just one year as an instructor, he has trained 29 divers, sharing his knowledge and inspiring others to follow in his footsteps.
When asked about her own rapid progress, she explained: “Right now, I have progressed the fastest among both men and women because I reached technical level in three years. Also, I am now a master instructor, not just a beginner instructor.”
This rapid progress is a testament to Hamda’s unwavering dedication and passion for the sport. “Since I started diving, I have stopped traveling and all other activities to dive,” she said.
Hamda’s ultimate goal is to become a technical diving instructor and share her expertise with others, especially women in the UAE.
“My next goal is to become a technical trainer and go to school in Saudi Arabia or Cairo. I want to give others the opportunity to see the ocean below 40 metres, just like I have seen and learned, to see its beauty,” she said.
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