The depth of disturbance – Scuba diving in Bali

The disturbed water, skin deep literally, that’s what Rakesh, my husband said once he was way under the sea, looking at the big scale aquarium underneath. It was sublime, pristine and a larger than hearsay experience! It was not just scuba diving for him but an encounter with the outstanding underwater world!

It all started with a boat ride to the middle of the sea in Nusa Lembongan. I was not really upto it but since it was the first time for Rakesh, I planned to be on the boat no matter what. First was his wearing the gear on land and taking the symbolic training on how to convey under water - ‘I am ok’ – ‘let’s go up’ – ‘I can’t breathe’ – ‘My mask is giving trouble’ etc.etc.

We went in a motor boat right upto what I thought was middle of nowhere but this was the place where most boats were stopping for their eager diving enthusiasts to disembark into the waters. This boat anchors where it stops with its boatman on board. In my case, us both. I was cold and nauseous. The waters were not behaving; the currents pretty strong making me shiver inside out.

The trainer assured me all would be fine, asked me not to worry and that they would re-surface in half an hour?! I started clicking pictures very carefully as the water was all over the place. Rakesh did look a little tense but excited all the same. They both jumped into the choppy waters with their masks, oxygen, fins et al. I sat wondering and shivering about how it would be under-waters. The surface was snarling at me, loud and rough, the boat was all over the place, rocking and waters jeering at me.

The depth of disturbance was only surface deep. The under was apparently calm and picture perfect. The color of each plant, rock or sand was vivid to the masked eye. It was almost like an illustration of life – the everyday experiences which we look at so enormously. This was similar. There was an essence of tranquility and serenity down under. There was nothing to fear, no currents, and no big waves and too much to savor than fear!