Into The Deep
Nothing had prepared me for the oppressive silence. The only sound booming in my ears was that of my own breathing, amplified through the respirator in my mouth. Without the distraction of ambient noise and surrounded by absolute quiet, it was a challenge dealing with the sudden solitude. Then I caught sight of my instructor who gave me my newly-learned signal to ascend.
Six metres under the azure blue waters surrounding Tioman Islands, I was on my maiden openwater dive. I was Jules Verne’s Captain Nemo, sans the Nautilus.
I was an archaeologist on my way to uncovering the mysteries of the doomed Titanic. Thanks to the proliferation of modern diving equipment and enhancements in safety, open-water diving is now readily available to anyone interested in it. One does not have to own a submarine in order to explore the intriguing depths of our oceans and the secrets they hold. What was once unimaginable is now possible with modern diving technology that enables the human body to withstand the enormous water pressure whilst enjoying the beauty offered by the oceans.
Eager to discover the magnificence of the underwater paradise offered by Tioman Islands, I jumped at the suggestion of some of my more adventurous friends to do a diving trip over the summer vacation. Eight of us headed out to Tioman – a four-hour journey overland by coach, followed by a two-hour ferry journey from Mersing jetty. However, once we reached Tioman, the sheer natural splendour of the island made the arduous journey worth it. We were astounded by the scenic, almost-untarnished beauty of the island – green forests perched on hills and unbroken sandy white beaches running across
the island. Yet, what struck me the most was the clarity of the sparkling sapphire sea in the sunshine. The water was so transparent that it was effortless to spot the schools of small fish lazily swimming around. I was floored!
After checking into our accommodation overlooking the beach, we were brought to the watersports facility where a short briefing was done about the introduction and requirements for safe scuba diving, the equipment that would help us stay afloat or submerged, and the hand signals that were essential for communication underwater. We began our first basic dive, which we later realised would only be to a maximum depth of six metres. We practised some basic drills, including ascending, descending, safety manoeuvres and hand signals. Due to time and safety limits, we could only stay underwater for an
hour at a time. We went for one last dive before calling it a day, just as the sun was setting, painting the evening skies a riot of colours. To round off the evening, we had a sumptuous steamboat dinner overlooking the now opaque ocean, while sipping chilled beer.
The next day held more intense activities, as we went on more advanced dive sessions at various localities around Tioman. The various reefs and rock formations accorded fantastic opportunities for observing myriad forms of marine life. Corals of different colours, shapes and sizes were a veritable wonderland for fishes and other sea creatures. At one point in my dive, I looked up from the sea floor to the the shimmering rays of sunlight filtering in from above. It was a surreal sight that truly took my breath away.
Our next few dives gave us a chance us to view some amazing cave formations. The deeper we went, the more it became apparent that the marine life was getting bigger and bigger in size. We began to observe many more animals of different shapes and sizes including stingrays and some pretty large crabs. The deepest point of our dive was about 12 metres. The murkier waters meant that visibility was reduced, and the temperature dropped severely. The intense pressure also meant that we were not able to stay underwater for very long, and had to surface after half an hour or so.
This brilliant opportunity to interact with nature underwater and witness all of its grandiose beauty has me spellbound. Even as I already make plans for my next diving trip, I cannot help but marvel at how far mankind has reached with oceanic exploration. What will be next for mankind? The continuous curiosity of mankind coupled with technological advancements will surely mean that Man will always find a way to explore localities regardless of his biological limitations.