The closet I’ve ever felt to flying was underwater. With a few smooth kicks, I am gliding through the open ocean. Suspended in mid water, I feel completely free. From an early age I’ve been comfortable in the water. It’s my second home, an escape from the boring land locked world.
So you can imagine my excitement when I had the chance to take an open water diving class this semester. It has been by far one of my favorite classes. It has spurred a sense of curiosity for the marine ecosystem, and has brought me closer to my connection with the natural world.
Photo by Francisco Jesús Navarro Hernández on Unsplash
The journey begins as we load all of the gear onto the boat. My wet suit is only halfway on and I’m baking under the bright Caribbean sun. I check to make sure I have all of my equipment; tank, fins, mask, snorkel, and weight belt. Once everyone is ready, we leave Brewer’s Bay to head out to a small island just past the airport runway called Flat Key.
After we arrive at our destination, I look out at the ocean from the boat. The water seems to be a vast dark blue entity and I wonder what lurks below the surface. My favorite way to enter the water is sitting on the side of the boat and flipping backwards. This sounds a bit intimidating, but I feel refreshed every time I fall back into the cold, salty ocean.
When you learn how to scuba dive, one of the first rules they teach is to never stop breathing. Which seems like common sense, but it requires a lot of concentration when you are 30 feet under the water. Breathing through the regulator sounds similar to Darth Vader breathing through his mask, so it’s hard to ignore. After awhile the constant in and out of your breath becomes comforting. As I swim deeper, the pressure builds, and I have to pop my ears. Finally, I reach the sandy bottom of the ocean floor.
Photo 1: Yellowtail Snappers
After we run through some exercises as a class, we get to explore the coral reef. It sounds cliche, but Disney got it right with Finding Nemo. There are the small fish darting in and out of the coral. There are massive schools of Yellowtail snappers that surround us, undisturbed by our presence. The large, brightly colored Parrotfish nibble at the coral.
When we’re lucky we may spot a stingray, a Lionfish, a huge lobster, or a turtle. With every dive there is always something new to see. I’d be happy spending hours floating, observing the marine life. Unfortunately, I am only human, and I eventually have to return to land.
Diving is an activity that not only makes you aware of what’s outside of yourself, but also forces you to look inward. It is essential that any good diver is aware of their surroundings, while also checking in on themselves. There’s no distraction of the human voice. You can signal to your dive buddy, but for the most part you are alone with your thoughts.
For this reason, I’ve found diving to be a meditative practice. When I go diving I recognize I am only a visitor in this world. That I’m only here for a short time to experience the joys and wonders that it has to offer.
The Coral reef is a fragile ecosystem, and it is home to an incredible amount of species. Yet is endangered due to human indifference. As I describe the beauties of ocean life, I only feel more strongly about our responsibility in protecting it.
Next weekend the University of the Virgin Islands is putting on an event called Reef Fest. I look forward to attending and to learning more about the coral reef ecosystem.