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- By Priscilla Yeo from Singapore.
 A Rose by Any Other Name Would Smell as… Damp?!
Like what Seinfeld had once said (yes, I have to quote a comedian just to get some material), “Just been scuba diving… it’s one of those great activities where your main goal is to not die.” Well yeah; but unlike most of your heart-pumping, show-stopping sports, this is one that ensures that you don’t have to have an adrenaline rush just to enjoy yourself… at least when you are not dying in inches all over the place.
An old friend had persistently requested for me to join him in discovering the wonders of the blue for quite a number of years already, but quite frankly, although the heart is willing, the wallet is not as forgiving. Finally one night of drunken bravado had me committed to what I have feared to be the most hilarious mistake of my life.
Wanting to look nice for my first pool training session, I had begged a fairly stylish O’Neil wetsuit off a girlfriend (I saw those training suits -- the purple cutouts and baggy knees would have had Coco Chanel spinning in her grave), only to find out that wetsuits were.. er hmm.. not exactly very flattering to figures that are anything less than 36-24-36. It was quite an effort to suck in your stomach, thrust out your chest, draw in your buttocks and have your hands conveniently shadowing your thighs while trying to breathe at the same time. Kids, do NOT try this at home. It didn’t help either that my course-mate was a stunning model wannabe (wannabe – because the measurements were stunning… but I’m sorry for the face) with, of course, the required dimensions. It was a gale of relief when my instructor informed me that water pressure compresses the body, which meant that all that lovely H2O contoured my blimp-like to state to the original condition that I was naturally meant to be. And I thought that I had lost that 24-inch waist the minute I hit 18!
 The first moment underwater was absolutely surreal. All the divers around me took on almost mystical, alien life form. Yes, it did feel a little like I’ve died and gone to a rather damp Heaven. I took my first open water dive in Tioman, Malaysia, and although I paid pretty much through the nose (in fact, I’m about reaching the medulla oblongata now), the experience is one that would confirm me as a dive addict for the rest of my life. The sights, the colors and sounds! Especially the sounds!
I’ve always thought that being underwater would mean an aural and oral blackout, but if you listen carefully, you can actually hear distinct crunching of fish scouring corals for their daily intake of yummy greens, a subdued roar of fierce currents around pinnacles, the faint nuance of watery screams perpetuated by diver mischief. Did I mention that turning off air tank valve of passing divers is a particularly favored hobby of mine? It really is like being introduced to a completely different world, with only you as the privileged pass holder.
All these odd animals and creatures that you never thought that you would be even vaguely interested on land took on new dimensions and meaning when you are in the deep blue. My dive logs are veritable essays, and now with the addition of an underwater camera, and of course the resulting images, I am now a completely certified bore.
Diving can be a love it or hate it sport, and especially if you have taken your open water certification within Singapore waters, it can be a disheartening process. Unfortunately with the local government’s aggressive land reclamation stance, water clarity and marine concerns are conveniently pushed to the back. Singapore’s territorial waters, on good days resembles sugar cane juice (freshly squeezed ones though, mind you), and on the bad ones… man, iced Milo. At 8 meters’ depth, a day trip effectively turns into a night dive, but the chance of further illumination (pun.. haha) should not be easily forsaken. All I can say is that we are really lucky to be situated within the Golden Triangle of global paradise diving, especially with the South China Sea, Gulf of Thailand and Adaman Sea situated so conveniently nearby. To not make use of these resources can be equated to a cardinal sin.
And indulge in these pleasures I certainly have. I am currently advancing through the PADI SCUBA ladder, and taking it all in Singapore too! After all, as my bank balance constantly reminds me, it really is much cheaper to continue diver education here. Since you already have nothing to see but a blanket of green anyway, might as well make full use of your time and the cover of plankton to practice new maneuvers and tricks learnt. I have successfully rammed my face into an algae covered rock over a dozen times while learning to fin backwards, and am pleased to say the from distinct lack of muffled sniggers when I finally emerged bruised and battered, confirms the fact that nobody (well, perhaps except for a couple of baffled batfish) ever learnt of the glamorous event. Oh, erm.. and you would totally forget that you just read that wouldn’t you?
Learn how to scuba dive >>
Learn to Scuba Dive in a Weekend, Reg Vallintine, Brian Pitkin (Illustrator)
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Scuba Diving & Snorkeling For Dummies®, John Newman
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The Diver's Handbook, Alan Mountain |
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