Diving Experience

The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish. I really like this quote. It’s been three years now since I got my diving license. I never planned on doing it but when I visited Bali in 2019 I met some divers at the resort I stayed in and they talked me into doing it. I’ll be forever grateful because diving really is something very special. It’s hard to find the right words to describe a diving experience but it really is like being a fish. When you’re under water there are no noises, there’s nothing you hear. Being under water makes me feel agravic. It makes me feel so peaceful and free. And then there’s the sealife. I feel very privileged to get to see fish, turtles, even sharks so close. I feel like I am a guest in their home and it amazes me how they don’t care at all about us human being there, observing them.
Unfortunately there always are some people who want to touch the fish which I think is very rude and you’re also told when you make the license that this is something you shouldn’t do. But it’s the same when you go to the zoo you’ll always find some people knocking on windows of animals. There always will be those disrespectful people. For me they are not aware of their privilege and how special it is to be under water in the sealife’s home. When you’re a guest somewhere you should behave like a guest and respect one another.

A cool thing about diving is what you learn. For example you learn how you clear water out of your mask. I never knew that was even possible to do while being under water. Obviously you learn what to do when you run out of air which is pretty much impossible if you stick to the rules and you learn a lot of signs to communicate under water. Overall it is a very safe thing and the only way something could happen is if you would panic, you overestimate yourself or ignore the rules you learned.

It’s also important to only go diving when you’re healthy. If you feel just the slightest sign of sickness don’t go. Your health is more important than anything. I’ve been told by a colleague that some diving centers even ask for a doctor’s clearance though that has never been asked of me. Obviously you always have to sign a form stating that you’re healthy and that the diving center takes no responsibility.
Another thing about diving is that it’s very expensive. One dive including gear is around 80€, give or take depending on the diving center. If I remember correctly my license was around 250€. Not everyone can afford this experience. But if you’re lucky enough to be able to afford it, it’s definitely worth it.