Teachings from the Deep Blue

I recently returned from Panama, after a week of spearfishing and surfing to my heart's content. The peace you find sitting on your board, observing, waiting for the perfect wave, is like nothing else. Out there, I feel more connected to nature, more present, than anywhere else.

During my time in Panama, I realized something important: no matter how much I love the mountains and all the adventures they offer—trust me, I like mountain biking and snowboarding as much as the next guy—there’s just something about the ocean. The respect it demands, the mystery it holds... it's different.

Every little boy dreams of being an explorer, and today, there are few places left where no man has gone. The ocean is the last true frontier on earth, and as someone who likes to live on the edge, it fulfills something deep within me.

While in Panama, I went spearfishing. There’s no feeling like it. Picture this: I’m miles off the coast, near an uninhabited island in the Pacific. Prone, observant, I spot my prey. I take a deep breath through my snorkel, my long fins disappearing beneath the water’s surface, and suddenly, the world falls silent.

I dive straight down to the seafloor, kicking as quietly as possible, my speargun tight against my side. As I close in, I glimpse the massive column of water above me. Waves of stomach cramps hit as my body’s dive reflex urges me to surface, to breathe. But in the quiet solitude of the ocean floor, I remind myself: *this is normal—stay calm, you have plenty of oxygen*.

And that’s when it hit me. Most of us live our lives like we're holding our breath, waiting for the perfect moment to take our shot. We wait to ask out the pretty girl, to go for that promotion, to start that business. We wait for our "in," just like some nervous high school kid in a 90s movie.

But when life gets uncomfortable, we have two choices: head to the surface or stay calm. Learning to "self-soothe" or "father yourself"—telling yourself that you’re okay despite the apparent danger—is one of the most underrated skills. It’s true in the water, and it’s true in life.

I finally saw my prey move into position, and boom, I took my shot. I wasn’t even sure I'd hit it, but I knew I could finally swim to the surface and take a breath. As I surfaced, I looked down and saw the fish had swum deeper, so I started to reel it in.

Later that day, we headed to an offshore spot where the fish were about 40 feet down—deep enough that I was out of my comfort zone. I stayed near the surface, and suddenly, a school of mackerel swam by. There were so many options, but I hesitated. I let my nerves get the best of me. I didn’t take my shot, and to this day, I regret not pulling the trigger.

The lesson here? Even if the perfect moment did exist, if you aren’t calm and collected, you might not recognize it. Worse yet, you might hesitate and regret it for the rest of your life.

Many people don’t even jump in the water—so if you did, recognize that and give yourself some credit. The truth is, there are always more fish in the sea, and if you keep trying, you’ll eventually hit your mark. Here is what we caught that day:

I’ll leave you with a quote that sums up the essence of exploration, risk, and trusting yourself:

"Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover." —Mark Twain

So aim true, and take your shot. That’s how you join the 3% of people truly living their truth. And if you miss, remember: there are always more opportunities on the horizon.

Stay frosty, my friends, and always be ready when opportunity comes a-knocking.

—Andrés Richa