Scootering on the ocean floor

“I’m freaking out already,” said a Rhode Islandwoman as the boat headed into the Pacific Ocean one windy morning.

She didn’t knowhowto swim. But even for someone who does, it’s hard not to be a little intimidated by the concept of the underwater scooter, which is exactly what its name implies— a scooter that putters across the ocean floor.

“Don’t psych yourself out,” our guide said. “Breathe like you are right now, and everything will be all good.”

Not only do you not need to knowhowto swim to operate an underwater scooter, you barely need to knowhowto drive a scooter.

It’s simple: Climb from the boat into thewater, where aworker waits with one of the bright yellowscooters. Hold your breath, dunk your head and pop up in an astronaut helmet, of sorts, that’s attached to the scooter. Oxygen is pumped into that helmet; no mask required. Then the scooter descends about15 feet to the ocean floor.

Drifting down is an odd sensation: The ears pop, oxygen hisses, and you try to convince yourself that you are safe. But after a couple of minutes, your thoughts shift to steering where you wish to go.

In truth, the scooter is less about underwater exploration— I probably didn’t leave a 50-foot radius— and more about breathing underwater while surrounded by fish. The scooter’s mesh bag, stuffed with bread, helps ensure a good crowd.

But the most rewarding momentsweren’t communing with the fish. Theywere looking up at the surface, no tubes attached tomy face, with one simple thought: “I’m breathing underwater.”