Swimming
along the surface your
equipment seems heavy and constricting.
The waves and currents push you around. The sun beats down heating you
beyond comfort. Then it is time to dive. Your partner signals his
readiness and you release the air from your vest. Slowly sinking, you
feel your body and equipment become weightless. Your limbs become
agile. You are entering a new world and the excitement fills your heart
and mind.
Near the bottom you adjust your buoyancy and suddenly you are flying.
The balance of air in your vest holds you motionless just a few feet
above the bottom. With a slight flick of your flippers you slide
forward through the water. The abundant, beautiful life here thrills
your imagination. That place above with the hard surfaces and
quick,
sharp movements may be where you live but down here, for this
long hour, you get to experience life in a way you never dreamed possible.
The sea humbles you; its power and diversity are far beyond anything in the world above. You are just another small organism in this vast multitude of beings. Your limited existence pales beside this wondrous world. If you listen to her, the sea will teach you; she will expand your knowledge, understanding, and wisdom. Hear her voice, see her face, feel her caress, and revel in her love.
I learned to SCUBA dive by picking
up the Boston Yellow Pages, flipping to the "Diving Instruction" section, and
calling one of the schools pretty much
at random. This probably wasn't the best way, but it worked. I am now
certified.
There is absolutely nothing like SCUBA diving. At one point in the training, I was sitting on the bottom of the pool waiting for my turn to do something or other (I don't even remember what it was). I sat there for around 10 minutes. I didn't move a muscle. I was just sitting several feet below the surface of the water. The entire time, I was absolutely fascinated! I knew from that point on I would be hooked.
I have reduced the size and quality of the photos in the interest of download time. If you would like to see the originals (or many other photos), either visit Linda's site or click on a specific photo.
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Copyright © 1995-1998 Carl P. E. dos Santos All rights reserved |
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