Nora Ghobril | The Chronicle
Weightless, surreal, and tranquil — words that may not describe everyday life for most people. For Mason High School (MHS) junior Anaya Tripathi, however, they are familiar feelings found far below the surface.
Tripathi said her passion for scuba diving began in elementary school, when her mother took her to countries such as Fiji and the Bahamas to experience some of the best waters. Now, Tripathi spends much of her summers scuba diving around the world.
“You can travel somewhere and see what’s above the water, but diving lets you see this whole other part of the place,” Tripathi said. “Diving has made me want to see even more of the world.”
Scuba diving is not the most common hobby for a high school student. Tripathi said her hobby often leaves people curious, especially when they learn she is in high school.
“People are usually pretty shocked when I tell them I scuba dive because it’s not something you hear about a lot,” Tripathi said. “Usually the first reaction I get is just surprise, and then they start asking me a bunch of questions.”
Tripathi said scuba diving has become a normal part of her life. She said as she continues diving, it becomes less of an experience and more of something she has become accustomed to.
“I don’t really think of [scuba diving] as this crazy thing anymore, but other people definitely do,” Tripathi said. “It’s taught me how to manage my time and stay consistent with my responsibilities, even outside of diving.”
Although diving may look effortless from the surface, Tripathi said becoming certified requires months of constant practice and guidance from the right professionals. She said that experience taught her the difference between being incredible at something and being capable of doing it.
“[Scuba diving] definitely taught me that you can’t expect to be good at something immediately,” Tripathi said. “Skills like getting used to the pressure of the water were difficult at first, but you just keep practicing until you get more comfortable.”
While diving lessons require rigorous preparation, Tripathi said her skills extend beyond the water. She said breaking away from hobbies that are done for other reasons was a refreshing reminder for her.
“I feel like so much of what students do is connected to school somehow, and [scuba diving] is something I do just because I love it,” Tripathi said. “I’m not doing it for a grade or because I need to put it on something. I just genuinely like doing it. Sometimes I think we get so focused on school that we forget we can learn things just because we’re interested in them.”
Tripathi said scuba diving may still shock many people, but it has become a hobby that gives her a break from school and clears her mind to explore beneath the surface.
“You never really know what you’re going to love until you actually try it,” Tripathi said. “I think everyone should find something they genuinely enjoy, even if it seems random or different.”
