Three years ago, my close friend Larissa had to hold my hand while we snorkelled off remote islands in Thailand. Another friend, Claire was not allowed to leave my side as we swam back to the boat.
I dont know what I was afraid of, but it was a paralysing fear that almost prevented me from experiencing one of the most amazing feelings - swimming with fish.
I have no idea what has happened since then but sometime during my past year of travelling my fear of the water - or more accurately, the things in it - has suddenly disappeared and the very sea life that once made me go into a state of panic now transfers me into a whirl of excitement.
Gliding through the water with an oxygen tank attached for the first time in Nha Trang, on the southern coast of Vietnam, I felt completely relaxed, even exhilarated. The only time my heart rate sped up slightly was when I was standing on the edge of the boat, my feet clumsily inching forward in flippers as I struggled to walk with what felt like a million pounds on my back and I looked straight ahead, listening to the countdown to jump into the water. 1, 2, 3,... okay, 3. Threeeee! Finally, I took the plunge. From there, I never looked back - or should I say up.
I had always admired scuba divers and wanted to do it myself but had been too chicken. But when you've faced an endless number of challenges like I have living in Peru and travelling South America over the past year, something changes within you and suddenly you can face anything - well, just about (I still couldn't succumb to eating tarantulas in Cambodia).
I took to scuba diving immediately and am completely hooked (excuse the pun!). Nha Trang is the prime diving spot in Vietnam. Other than that, it has a great beach and plenty of nightlife but not many cultural opportunities. And its dangerous at night.
I had travelled there with my three English girl friends who I met in Cambodia. We arrived on the best bus we had ever seen - it had rows of bunk beds that almost fully reclined! Finally, someone has understood the real meaning of a sleeper bus!
Prior to Nha Trang, I had enjoyed a girly break with another friend Leigh (who I also met in Cambodia and who is teaching English in Ho Chi Minh City) and her friend Jess. We travelled up from Ho Chi Minh City.
Dalat is a world away from the rest of Vietnam. In the Central Highlands, the mountainous scenery also makes for a cooler climate and the city is reminiscent of the country's century under French rule, with many colonial homes still standing and baguettes the most popular street food.
It has a reputation for being a romantic city, with villas (some are the same homes where French and Viet Cong soldiers relaxed during the Franco-Viet Minh War) nestled in picturesque gardens with beautiful views of the mountain countryside. The area also managed to remain relatively peaceful during the Vietnam War.
We hired bicycles on the first day and quickly realised that riding a bike in a mountainous city is not a good idea! We ended up pushing them more than riding them.
We opted for motor power on the second day, and hired the infamous Easy Riders to chauffer us around the countryside, where we learnt about many of the Vietnamese traditions including making tofu and rice wine and got wet under the amazing Elephant Falls.
We also visited a minority village, although since the government moved them from their original home in the forest to just outside Dalat, they are fast blending into the city. However, they still retain their own language and most of their customs.
Dalat was a nice escape from the city and beaches (and throngs of tourists) that so far was all I had experienced of Vietnam. However, after two days, it was time to get back to the action.
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