Breathing Life Underwater

“I feel at home in the sea… every moment underwater opens up a world all its own.” At 29 years old, Walaa Ahmed Radhi describes diving not merely as a hobby, but as a life-changing experience one that reshaped the way she perceives herself and the world.

Diving had been a dream of hers since childhood. The sea has always been part of her memories and upbringing, a place of freedom and curiosity. “It was always a dream of mine,” she said. “I made the decision at a time when I felt I needed to feel alive again.” A year and a half ago, she finally took the plunge, stepping into a world full of mystery and wonder.

She recalls the early days of training vividly, with challenges and moments of uncertainty but never a lack of support. “My coach, Captain Hisham Al Gaffas, was always confident in my abilities even when I stumbled during training,” she shared. His steady encouragement gave her the courage to trust herself and push beyond her limits.

During an exclusive conversation with The Daily Tribune, Walaa emphasized how diving became a personal sanctuary. “The sea is my escape, my sanctuary a fresh breath that revives my life, my passion, and my spirit,” she said. Beneath the surface, everything shifts. “From the moment the water covers your head, you are immersed in serenity… as if the world slows down, and all you hear is your own breathing.”

In the depths, surrounded by marine life and endless blue, she discovered something unexpected. “I found myself in diving and that doesn’t happen every time.” Despite living a fast-paced, social life filled with noise and activity, diving revealed a quieter side of her. “My life is full of speed, and I love it that way… but in the sea, I discovered calm. It taught me that I need that quiet and slowness sometimes to stay balanced.”

For Walaa, each dive is more than an adventure it is a lesson in courage, self-discovery, and embracing life fully. “To truly feel alive, you must be willing to surrender to the depths,” she concluded, encouraging anyone curious about diving to overcome fear and explore the world beneath the waves.