Sue and Marie
The Dive Bug
This week has been a good week for me as I totally hooked a new dive junkie. He got everything completely and now has a new love in his life. Although he is 62, he will become a dive master by the end of the summer, of that I am sure. How do I know I hear you ask? He used to go surfing every day, now he dives. He used to talk about pipelines, swells and wipe outs, now he talks about octopus, coral and how lovely the glassy flat water looks! Bless him. But why has this happened? It´s a great escape, totally relaxing and a lot of fun. It is also a lot easier on the body than surfing!.jpg)
The underwater world is quiet. The moment I drop below the surface of the water the worries and concerns of modern life fade away. I am in foreign world, where strange creatures float and where the rules of physics that govern my everyday existence no longer apply. Gravity disappears. For the duration of the dive I am an explorer who can navigate an environment few humans are privileged to experience.
In a way, divers are like astronauts - they can escape their terrestrial existence! Unlike space travel, the training to safely explore the underwater environment takes only days. The relative safety and ease of scuba diving makes it a great way for many people to escape their busy lives. Underwater, you cannot be reached on your cell phone, the latest Facebook updates are of no concern to me and Twitter is silenced. Life goes on pause and you are simply alone with the water.
To dive safely, a person must focus on his immediate surroundings and actions. A diver must manage his dive gear and monitor his depth, time, and air supply. Unusual aquatic life and the bizarre environment consume his attention. Underwater, a diver has no time to worry about his surface obligations. The stress and distractions of the above water world are silenced. For this reason, many divers find being underwater meditative.
Someone told me once that all divers are trying to escape from something. Maybe that is true. Whatever drives us to voyage into the underwater world, whether it is a need for escape or a simple penchant for exploration and adventure, diving provides us a welcome break from our everyday lives. We emerge from the water refreshed, and ready to tackle our obligations on land from a new perspective.
I saw a guest jump on our boat yesterday with all of the worries of the world etched on his face. He owned a busy business back in Canada and chatted about the planned growth of his business, his staffing concerns and cash flow all the way to the dive site..JPG)
After diving, I did not hear a single reference to his company, only talk of the fish he saw and his diving techniques that he wants to improve. His face had relaxed and he was a different fella. He needed to dive and I don´t think anything else could do this to or for him.
Now, and for the next few months, this feeling is compounded by the whales in the bay. I have seen hundreds of them, but I am still so excited about having them around. Majestic and awesome are two fitting superlatives that spring to mind. They are shattering the peace and quiet underwater though with their song, but this only enhances the experience as it brings the ocean right into your head. Happy New Year to everyone!
Is the Certified Padi Master Instructor
and Padi IDC Staff Instructor
www.pvseadive.com
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