The history of how ScubaDoRag came to be…While going through a “MidLife Awakening”, I was developing this character, CoCo Cheznaynay®, Secret Agent of Truth & Style. She teaches in a whimsical, non-threatening way to own all of who you are, to find your mission and to develop your true sense of style. My plan was to produce products,and teach in a way that others may not even be aware that they are learning. I was writing through CoCo to be fearless about making change. I was quite confident in parlaying this information because of my own personal experiences and growth – until I started scuba lessons. I came face to face with my own fears I did not know I had – performance anxiety about doing the skills in front of others and not being able to speak underwater when I was scared or did not understand. I then understood what a huge issue this is for me and others – giving your power away and trusting that someone would honor your courage for a seemingly simplistic task. The class was big and haphazard and I realized once again, I evidently learn and process differently than most. I also realized not being able to use my personality or gift of gab underwater greatly handicapped my normal coping skills and I had always been hired or praised for being so different. I really felt “like a fish out of water” … One night the class was small and I was descending with two other students and I went down too fast without clearing – I blew out my ear but luckily with no permanent damage. While it healed, I went on a scheduled trip to England and knew I had to go back and finish no matter how scared or bothered. I was paralyzed by my fear and knew if I did not face it I could never teach it. That dive instructor quit before we could finish the class so they hired another. I started all over instead of making up just what I had missed. I finally got certified in a rock quarry and vowed that I would never dive again unless it was blue water and warm. I traveled by myself to Mexico and was still shaky but feeling better. I started seeing the beauty of owning my fears so I could see the beauty at the bottom of the ocean. I was writing about how much scuba parallels life lessons. I went on eight trips that year and had another horrible certification experience (Advanced) with a dive instructor who had a problem with alcohol. But I became very vested in becoming a good diver and really honed my skills in the fast waters of Cozumel.
Traveling alone has its merits – I met so many wonderful divers and started paying attention to their equipment, their processes, their fin kicks, their breathing and their thoughts on how to develop their skills. One girl I was diving with had medium length hair and messed with it the entire dive. I always liked SecretAgents and grew up with many. I love gadgets and appreciated how they always had the perfect tools for any situation. That’s another reason I love scuba – the “Stuff”! My SecretAgent mind started the process of seeing the hair problem and knowing James Bond surely would have had a fix for this… I came back and researched what was on the market and improved and developed new features. I made the first ten myself, paid for a label design so others would know I was serious about protecting my innovation, went on a trip to test dive them. After great reviews, I started the manufacturing and distribution learning curve. (I am still in the curve).
Some of the lessons I learned are written in the CoCoQuotes on the inside of the labels. CoCo hopes that at least through osmosis maybe some of the messages will get through…