The ocean floor

Unsure of what to do yesterday, i was talking to a Woman in my dormitory who was on a diving course here in Taganga. I knew this place was known for its beautiful and relativly inexpensive diving options. I decided not to regret passing this experience. I set off to reserach the recommended diving school, PADI certified, and found myself booking on for a one day diving experience.

Half a day later and my life has changed forever! The moment i took my first breath underwater was really profound for me. I was reminded of how my breathing often reflects my emotions, and that in the past i have struggled a lot to breathe properly and healthily. Underwater one is very aware of their breathing! To breathe slowly, deeply, continuously, is the single most important thing when diving, to avoid serious injury. Upon first going underwater i felt myself want to cry, a mild panic washed over me, various emotions surged throughout my body. My breathing was inititally shallow, anxious. I quickly realised i needed to take longer, deeper breaths, so I calmed myself and came into my body, into my experience. Suddenly i was breathing fluidly underwater, looking around me at what seemed an entirely new and alien world.

Getting into slow, deep, long breaths was a great meditation!

As i learnt and gained more confidence, we went deeper and deeper (two guys, myself and the instructor). The ocean floor was mind blowing. I could have been on the strongest acid trip...this was an utterly incredible experience. Weird and wonderful creatures danced around me; luminious fish swam in colourful schools; marine ecosystems would have taken my breath away had it not been so important to continue to breathe! Spider crabs, Tiger fish: all so utterly surreal! Is this a dream, i thought. I had recently had dreams of the ocean and of weird and hypnotic sea life. Vivid clours, glowing seductive animals watching me placidly. My dreams came true. I floated and swam with grace and ease, everything held together in the beautiful clear salt water. Bubbles of air made entrancing silver shapes as they flew towards the waters surface.

Just... WOW. I am doing the PADI diving course so that i can dive anywhere in the world. Its great to be learning something so incredible, being able to explore ocean life. The ocean is such an intrinsic part of life, yet i know so very little about it. A deep passion has been ignited.