For Part I click hereA couple of Lionfish swam past, towards the corals. I floated about cautiously, admiring their splendid spikes that made them look unearthly. The muscles of my legs started to cramp a little bit- but if I stopped doing flutter kicks I’d sink to the depths.
I felt the pressure on my ears- I equalized just as the Divemaster had taught me. Three people in a giant soup- that was what we must have looked like. Suddenly, the seafloor diappeared from view- what appeared to be was just darkness below. I felt a slight flip of my stomach.
30 Feet below Sea Level
My mouth and throat felt dry from the oxygen, but I dared not to swallow and let some saliva moisten it- I could accidentally let go of the oxygen regulator- and at 30 feet underwater- that can’t be a good thing.
I followed the gaze of the Divemaster and the British guy- just ahead, illuminated in a ghostly glow was an enormous gunboat. It looked as dead as it was dreary, seemingly foreboding as it threatened to swallow us.
There were less corals now, and only but a few fish swimming past. It was as if living things avoided the desolate spot.
The Divemaster turned to us and signaled “follow me”.
The was no sound except for the constant hiss of my regulator and the gurgling sound of bubbles as they rose to the surface. We swam deeper towards the boat.
50 Feet below Sea Level
It began as a whisper of fear. A slight knotting of my stomach, which suddenly spread to the rest of my body. To my horror, I recognized it as a sign of a panic attack.
I began reciting prayers in my head to try and calm myself down, while trying desperately to swim towards the Divemaster so I can signal that I needed to surface.
“Oh God, oh God.”
My legs felt like lead, and one of my fins were loose. I finally was able to grasp the Divemaster’s ankle. In the dim light, he turns to me questioningly.
Shit! I racked my brains- what was the signal for distress? I couldn’t think anymore, all I wanted to do was get out of that place. I was hyperventilating now, and I could see the oxygen bubbles swirling about.
He signaled CALM DOWN.
I continued to struggle through his grasp, wildly signaling and pointing up. Take me to the surface!
“Oh God, he doesn’t understand. Take me up!” I screamed in my mind.
I remembered what he said during the lesson: do not inflate your vest so as not to rise to the surface rapidly. Fuck it.
I began to kick. Kick and swim towards the surface. Finally, he understood. He signals to the British diver, grabs my vest, and slowly pulls me towards the surface.
At the Surface
I had never been so happy to see the sun, and the wind whipping my face. I let the warmth flood through my body. I bobbed up and down on the surface of the water, and the Divemaster and the British diver went back underwater.
I swam to where our boat was.
At lunch time, while we had our portions of food, the British guy’s wife told me, “You know, one of the best ways to overcome your fears is to get right back on.”
“Oo, nga Sir. Meron pa kayong isang dive. Turned out I only consumed barely half of my previous oxygen tank, and had another for the second dive, which was already paid for.
They all turn to look at me for my reply. It was, by far, one of the craziest things I’ve ever done- I smiled and said, “Sure, where’s the next wreck site?”
I felt the pressure on my ears- I equalized just as the Divemaster had taught me. Three people in a giant soup- that was what we must have looked like. Suddenly, the seafloor diappeared from view- what appeared to be was just darkness below. I felt a slight flip of my stomach.
30 Feet below Sea Level
My mouth and throat felt dry from the oxygen, but I dared not to swallow and let some saliva moisten it- I could accidentally let go of the oxygen regulator- and at 30 feet underwater- that can’t be a good thing.
I followed the gaze of the Divemaster and the British guy- just ahead, illuminated in a ghostly glow was an enormous gunboat. It looked as dead as it was dreary, seemingly foreboding as it threatened to swallow us.
There were less corals now, and only but a few fish swimming past. It was as if living things avoided the desolate spot.
The Divemaster turned to us and signaled “follow me”.
The was no sound except for the constant hiss of my regulator and the gurgling sound of bubbles as they rose to the surface. We swam deeper towards the boat.
50 Feet below Sea Level
It began as a whisper of fear. A slight knotting of my stomach, which suddenly spread to the rest of my body. To my horror, I recognized it as a sign of a panic attack.
I began reciting prayers in my head to try and calm myself down, while trying desperately to swim towards the Divemaster so I can signal that I needed to surface.
“Oh God, oh God.”
My legs felt like lead, and one of my fins were loose. I finally was able to grasp the Divemaster’s ankle. In the dim light, he turns to me questioningly.
Shit! I racked my brains- what was the signal for distress? I couldn’t think anymore, all I wanted to do was get out of that place. I was hyperventilating now, and I could see the oxygen bubbles swirling about.
He signaled CALM DOWN.
I continued to struggle through his grasp, wildly signaling and pointing up. Take me to the surface!
“Oh God, he doesn’t understand. Take me up!” I screamed in my mind.
I remembered what he said during the lesson: do not inflate your vest so as not to rise to the surface rapidly. Fuck it.
I began to kick. Kick and swim towards the surface. Finally, he understood. He signals to the British diver, grabs my vest, and slowly pulls me towards the surface.
At the Surface
I had never been so happy to see the sun, and the wind whipping my face. I let the warmth flood through my body. I bobbed up and down on the surface of the water, and the Divemaster and the British diver went back underwater.
I swam to where our boat was.
At lunch time, while we had our portions of food, the British guy’s wife told me, “You know, one of the best ways to overcome your fears is to get right back on.”
“Oo, nga Sir. Meron pa kayong isang dive. Turned out I only consumed barely half of my previous oxygen tank, and had another for the second dive, which was already paid for.
They all turn to look at me for my reply. It was, by far, one of the craziest things I’ve ever done- I smiled and said, “Sure, where’s the next wreck site?”
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