Analogy between PhD and diving

Just had this thought when chatted with my friends before..

Suddenly get an inspiration about what is the similarity between PhD and diving

Imagine that you are in the ocean.. you are already at the boat.. and you look at the sea.. wondering what is inside. Since you can't see anything at the surface.. Maybe you just think that ocean is very beautiful inside, there are corals, fishes, etc..
-> same as PhD.. if you are not at that world, you will not know what is trully inside.. maybe you will just think that PhD is a nice world, since you get paid by just studying =P

After several time wondering.. you just think.. "Err.. I want to look a little bit closer to the sea, and feel the sensastion of the sea myself.." So.. you take one step ahead by putting down your foot into the sea, and tried to look what is inside using your bare eyes..
--> the first year of PhD.. you don't know what actually you are going to do.. so you just read a lot of journal papers.. but seems like it is still okay, coz the deadline is still sooo far away.. so you still can a little bit relax..
*this condition is not universal applied.. depends on who are your boss*

Suddenly you fall out to the sea because you lack of balance.. Panic mode on, because you haven't used your complete diving equipment yet.. You lose your sight ( since you can't see inside the water ), You run out of breath ( since you haven't used your oxygen tank, and in panic state, so you suddenly lose all of your swimming ability ). Because you lose all your sensing, you are afraid of several dangers in the sea, such as shark, etc..
--> the second year of PhD.. you become panic, because you are not doin enough in your first year, but you have an ultimate deadline within 2 years, which is QE... panic because you don't have any significant result, no proper experimental procedure yet, and become worst when you fell that no one is able to help you to solve the problems.. And you are forced to finish your report, with at least.. significant datas..

After you are gettin calm and gettin used to the ocean condition.. Maybe you will think.. "Okay.. why don't I swim to the surface, pick up my google, and dive.. since I am already soaked..". So, you go to the surface, take your google, and diving at the ocean.. Although the ocean is not as beautiful as what you thought at the first time.. Well.. you still continue to dive since you are already wet all over the body..
--> third and fourth year after your QE.. well.. somehow you already have a "proper" direction of your research.. Although you think that actually you don't care with your work, but since you already go too deep into this world.. And seem like that there is no point of return.. No other choice.. you just have to used to it, and face it until the end..

*wondering when will I be at my "diving" state, instead of "drowning" state*
=P