Nov 02, 2008 11:02 PM
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(Updated Nov 02, 2008 11:54 PM)
I went to *Lakshadweep Island*s in 2005 and I got this amazing opportunity of doing SCUBA diving in one of its islands called *Kavaratti*. I am just going to describe it in my words.
When we reached this island , we were told by the crew that it offers some good water sports and that the training would start in sometime. We were about 20 people group , asked to sit forming a circle . Then a guide or instructor stood amongst us with a SCUBA unit in his hands , which was obviously to train us and make us understand it in the first place. This was the very first time that I was doing any kind of water sport in my life.
His first question to us was , "Can anybody tell me what does SCUBA diving means?" To my surprise , none raised their hands , but since I knew the answer , I said , "I can." He asked me to go ahead and I answered , " **SCUBA diving means diving with a Self Contained Underwater Breathing Apparatus**". Of course everybody, including my parents were quite happy to see a girl beating every adult and aged and giving the answer boldly.
Then the instructor asked me to join him as a volunteer considering me to be smart enough. This apparatus for all those who dont know , consists of -
1. Scuba Tank of compressed air.
Dive Regulator which provides you air.
BCD (Buoyancy Control Device) that lets you float or descend at will and also acts as or integrates with a HARNESS.
Integrated weight system for added convenience
Goggles for eyes which doesnt allow water to enter eyes.
Swim pads for feet to be able to walk underwater.
It basically involves ***putting a heavy tank full of compressed air on your back and diving into deep water with a tiny rubber tube being the only thing that keeps you alive.*** Also to remember , even for once, if you take that mask out and breathe direct from your mouth , your lungs will be filled with sufficient air and water to blast off like a balloon causing instant death or unconsciousness. SO , it is a risky one too.
Training of about 30 minutes was given to all the people who were interested in doing it directly in Arabian Sea , 10 m or 20 m deep inside. Of course the number were very few and the ones who got passed in training were even lesser. I was fortunate enough to be one of them , despite the big fact that I did not know swimming.
A few hand made instructions are told to the diver which can indicate his co-diver (who remains a trained diver to help , he just keeps holding hands and help you dive and walk inside ) that the diver feels alright , safe or wants to come to the surface, coz once inside , you *CAN NOT* open your mouth , coz you have that mask fitted inside your mouth clenching your teeth.I was indeed the first one to go .
It gets real heavy by the time you wear that unit , coz the weight system is something which is heavier than your own weight to be able to help you go down , funda is simple , more weight pulls you beneath and if you want to come up , release the button and it will go free helping you to float above.
The moment I first walked on the crystal clear sand of Kavaratti Island was mesmerising and I observed that the sand only got clearer as I moved towards the sea from the shore , with the sunrays getting filtered through the water and making it more white. I touched the plants and fishes . At a point after diving for 20 minutes , I found myself near a wall , called as Coral Reef , one side of this wall was sand where the co-diver was standing and on the other side , was as dark as anything could ever be . It seemed to be so vast and deep that nothing could be seen beyond that except darkness. I was standing ON the wall and was obviously scared enough and indicated him to take me to the surface. On my return to the surface, I found that I was so far from the shore that people seemed like ants and only trees could be seen. I had no other option but to dive back to the shore , coz I could not swim. But it was so adventurous that I loved to go deep inside again.
Back to the shore , I was going with such an unbelievable, lifetime experience in my mind which not many people can dare to do at the first place. Secondly, the life underwater , which people can only talk about , its really a different experience touching and feeling the same.
This sport is a costly one and not easy for everyone to afford because its not available at all the places around. But I would suggest that anyone , who gets the chance to do this once , please dont miss it , to see an unseen world right from your own eyes , atleast once in your entire life. I am sure you will never forget it , just like me !
N.B.- I am also attaching two pics here above. One of them shows two persons diving and the other one is a hand movement which is made to indicate that "All is well , OKAY".
