Colours of unimaginable shades, geometrically impossible shapes, a hoard of lifers at one go. In a world whose language is silence, I swam my way through, breathing through my mouth and gripping the guard which was the only source of air tighter and tighter as time went by. All I could hear was my breath- in and out like clockwork, like they had taught us. Another tick on my bucket list- deep sea diving (in Andaman and Nicobar islands). It was more than I had anticipated, it exceeded expectations
We went in as a team of ten, all of us from the same tour package, and all familiar faces. After around an hour of training which involved using the equipment, breathing comfortably and basic techniques like removing water that might enter your goggles when under water, and also learning the various signals to be used to convey certain messages, we were taken down into the unknown, each one of us accompanied by an instructor who was to lead us through the trip.
As he finally turned me upside down and pulled me away from the surface, I took my first glimpse at a world that I had never before seen. And was it different!! Everything around me existed in a harmony so fragrant that it seemed to gratify the eye without arresting it. Eels, black as polish peeped out of corals, clamps of various colours breathed as the soft flesh between the two hard shells quivered ecstatically. Fish of various colours and sizes swam all around me, adorned with a classic dignity that was more an emanation than an attribute.
After about quarter of an hour, my teeth started to ache with gripping the guard so tightly, and my lungs ached for a fresh breath of air that was not compressed in a cylinder. I felt my ears popping and looked up to see the surface getting closer and closer. As we broke the surface, I thankfully gulped in a mouthful of fresh oxygen, glad to finally be out in open air, but extremely dejected at leaving the unknown world so completely unexplored. The millions of things that I had not been able to see beckoned to me, but I had to push on towards the shore, hardly able to feel my teeth and gums.
This hour of my life will always remind me of how insignificant we actually are in this world, and of how intricate and delicate everything is in Nature. It also gave me a new addition to my bucket list- to get a PADI certificate, which is a certificate that is given to professional scuba divers and I have sworn to tick this off my list as soon as I graduate.
As Tec Clark sums it up beautifully,“Scuba diving is sensual. To breathe underwater is one of the most fascinating and peculiar sensations imaginable. Breathing becomes a rhythmic melody of inhalations and exhalations. The cracks and pops of fish and crustaceans harmonize with the rhythmic chiming of the bubbles as you exhale. Soon, lungs act as bellows, controlling your buoyancy as you achieve weightlessness. And, as in your dreams, you are flying. Combine these otherworldly stimuli and you surrender completely to the sanctuary of the underwater world”.
You’re braver than I am, but what a truly magnificent experience!
Ha ha!! Yes, it truly was… One day, I hope to do the same in the Great Barrier Reef!! That would be out of the world!! 🙂
Beautifully written, Sumithra. What a wonderful experience and a beautiful world you visited. Thank you for taking us there.
Thank you so much, Lynne!! Glad you liked it as much I did!! 🙂
I so enjoyed reading of your undersea adventure. I’ve never scuba dived, but I’ve done a lot of snorkling and free diving, and it is so magical down there, I never want to leave.
Thank you so much, Deborah!! And yes, I didn’t want to leave too!! 😉
Always wanted to do this. Thanks for reminding me, I need to get on it soon. 🙂
The first sight and feeling underwater is really insane… Can’t wait to do it in the Great Barrier Reef, one day!! 🙂
I would love to see the beautiful life under the sea, but being a bit claustrophobic, I am afraid I would have to pass on this sport.
Aww, that’s too bad… But you have a lot of other options to choose from… And I can assure you, that it really is worth the risk!!
I would love to go scuba diving but just don’t have the opportunity. Great pictures!
Thank you!! I hope you get to do it some day soon!! 🙂
So do I!
Ohhhh that sounds so calmiiiing… and NEMO AAAA
Oh yes!! And I saw Dory too!! Though in a different area!! 😉
thanks for visiting me! We share a love of books, music, and travel.
blessings, Linda
This looks like an amazing world to take a peek into! Kudos to you for taking a leap in (I’m a bit afraid of it as well…)
Thank you!! It surely is a completely new world!! And believe me, it was worth overcoming the little hesitation and fear… 🙂
Awesome…man, I want to scuba dive! It looks so amazing in your pictures.
Oh yeah!! Saying it was awesome is actually an understatement!! 😉
Hope you get to do it soon!!
Wow! I would love to be able to do that, what an amazing experience it must have been. Love the pic of ‘Nemo’!
It really was out of the world!! Hope you get to do it soon!! 🙂
Nic expns & pics………..Thanks for sharing
ALL THE BEST 🙂
Thank you so much!! 🙂
Wow, beautiful post, your descriptions were so vivid! I’ve never been interested in scuba diving until now 🙂 Definitely something I want to try at some stage!
Thanks for sharing 🙂
Rohan.
Thank you so much!! Hope you get to do it soon!! 🙂
I feel the same way as LuAnn above. I would be having a panic attack from the claustrophobic feeling of all the necessary gear compounded with the fact that I am not a very good swimmer. I can thrash my way across a swimming pool but if I were dropped in the middle of a lake, I would sink like a rock.
Claustrophobia might be a problem, but not the fact that you do not know swimming… A few of them who came down with me did not know it too, but since they were helped by an instructor, they managed more than fine… 🙂
fantastic experience! I’ll stick to snorkeling though 😉
Ha ha!! Yes… I did snorkeling too… Needs much less effort and pain!! 😉
Wonderful adventure, thanks for sharing!
It really was great!! Thank you!! 🙂
Loved the underwater photoes. Many years have pass since I built my own leaky underwater camara in an effort to show the beauty to be seen scuba diving.
Thank you!! And now, there are so many readily available cheaper cameras used for underwater photography… How times change!! 🙂
This is fantastic, truly fantastic. I remember scuba diving with my son and I can SO, SO REMEMBER that under the ocean sound, the quiet and mutedness, the feeling of floating through that world, seeing the fish so close, so beautiful. This is just fantastic – great pictures too: wonderful.
Thank you so much, Mam… It really is an experience that I will hold on to forever… 🙂
What a great adventure and so happy Nemo is still around…Great shot.
Thank you, Mam!! I am glad I was able to spot Nemo too!! 🙂
That looks wonderful. I’ve wanted to go the Andaman and Nicobar Islands for a long time and now if/when I do, I’ll have to go scuba diving as well.
It surely is a must do in Andamans… Do try out the one in Havelock island, on Elephant beach… The one they offer in Neil island is not as good as that…
Hope you get to do it soon!! 🙂
Thanks for the suggestions. I’m not sure when I’ll be able to go there, but it’s one of my dreams. Hopefully soon!
What an amazing experience must have been…enjoyed reading this ….and yes lovely photographs as usual..:-)
It really was an amazing experience… Thank you so much!! 🙂
stunning
Thank you so much!! 🙂
I haven’t been diving in years, thanks for the reminder 🙂 I’ve dived the Great Barrier Reef, Sydney and one of the shipwrecks, some spots on the reef are better than others. You can get PADI certified on the reef, it’s a few days in the pool for the basics and then out on a boat for a few more days under the guidance of an instructor to complete the open water part of the certification. They do packages that include training, medical exam, gear hire, certification, on board accommodation and meals.
I wouldn’t recommend diving if claustrophobia causes you to hyperventilate, you need to be able to control your breathing when you dive, they do have glass bottom boats though and there is plenty to see in the shallows.
Wow!! Deep sea diving in the great barrier reef is my ultimate dream!! And yes, I am very resolved on getting my PADI certificate… I went on the glass bottom boat too, but it wasn’t even half the fun as scuba diving was… Luckily, I am not claustrophobic!! Thank you for the tips… 🙂
really want to do it…you have fueled my passions
Glad I could be of a little help!! Hope you get to do it soon!! 🙂
Can I say I am green with envy!
Wonderful experience and terrific shots!
Ha ha!! Thank you so much!! 🙂