A Diving Nightmare

One of the activities that Blake and I really enjoy doing on the island is diving. There is an amazing feeling associated with navigating through the water, many feet under the waves. I think the closest reference for those that don't dive would be flying. You feel like you are soaring above coral reefs, while hundreds of fish are zipping in and out of the coral heads and sea fans below. You can dip down low, you can turn yourself upside down, you can dive on your back and watch the waves dance along the surface. It is the closest to flying one can ever get. Although many people think that the heavy tank and weights you wear to sink yourself to your desired level must burden you, but they don't. You still feel weightless and so much in control of your movements. Blake and I have had some amazing experiences while diving in Grand Cayman and Little Cayman. We have seen neon fish, majestic angel fish, small eels, sting rays and eagle rays, lobsters and crabs and large loggerhead turtles. With the Cayman Islands being located in the middle of the Caribbean Sea we have also been awaiting our inevitable shark encounter. I, on one hand, am excited to have our first shark sighting. On the North wall there are hammerheads, and reef sharks as well as tiger sharks can be seen from time to time around the island. If you dive long enough, you will see a shark. Blake, on the other hand, is not so keen for a sharky visit. I understand the fear. I can imagine how it would feel. Everyone who dives has something that they fear. For some it is running out of air, for others is claustrophobia inside of small underwater spaces. There is also the fear of large drop offs, currents, sharks, eel attacks... you name it, someone fears it.

The point of this story it to relay my diving nightmare, which actually occurred this morning. I must preface this story by admitting that Blake and I had not been diving in four months. With a combination of cold water, work schedules, cold fronts and parental visits we had not been able to find a time to visit our underwater playground. We finally made a pact that this Saturday morning would be perfect. Oddly enough, on the drive to meet our dive partners, Brett and Sarah, I mentioned my largest fear and described how I would be paralyzed in a panic state, should this ever occur. Shivers ran down my spine just thinking about it. Once at our dive locale, Sunset House, we set up our dive kit. We should have seen the omens then. Sarah's BCD (an inflatable jacket worn to keep you buoyant at the surface and when needed) was self-inflating; not a good sign. Once she rented a functioning BCD we headed to the ladder. Just before we got in, Blake's tank fell out of his jacket. Luckily we were able to strap it back in. Once we got into the water and swam out we were ready to descend. As soon as we began our descent we heard a high pitched whine in the water. We looked around for boats, but saw nothing. Once on the floor of the ocean we began our dive. It wasn't long in, that I could feel my tank inching down my back. Thankfully I realized it had fallen out of my jacket! Blake and Brett were able to put it back in with little time wasted. On we continued. Eleven minutes in, Blake grabbed my hand. He indicated that something was wrong. Panic shot through my body. He wasn't out of air, which was a good sign. We couldn't shoot to the surface, as we were 60 feet underwater and that could give us the bends. Instead he indicated that he wanted to turn around. I was able to understand through his gestures that his head or ears were bothering him. As we headed back, he signalled that he was fine. He did not want to ascend, he would like to explore the reefs at the shallower depth we had reached. We were all satisfied with this and began scouting out some coral heads. I was off in my own world, watching miniature fluorescent purple fish dart in and out of dead coral pieces, when I felt a hand grab my arm and yank. I turned around expecting to see Blake, but instead saw Brett. I immediately assumed that I must be hovering perilously above some fire coral, and was about to receive a nasty burn. I looked below me and saw none. I then looked around to find Blake and saw both him and Sarah slowly moving backwards, their gazes fixed on something in the distance. When Blake caught me looking at him he indicated I should move back. Fear was already creeping into my every limb. I looked ahead and saw nothing, which wasn't surprising granted the visibility was not that great. I began peering to the right and left when all of a sudden it emerged from the dark blue like a giant shadow. My heart leapt into my throat and I knew there was no way I could escape it. It moved much too quickly. How had it snuck up like this? As it floated towards us I tried every trick in the book to calm myself. I could see Sarah was a little distressed as well. Blake and Brett remained fixed in their spots. As there was no chance of out swimming it, I realized I would just have to stay, hovering above the coral head as it made its way past. When it was within twenty feet of us it appeared as big as a semi trailer. The stray beams of sunlight from the surface glinting off its shiny body. It was then that I realized I would be alright. The massive blue and white submarine was fifteen feet from the four of us, but it would not come any closer. People waved through the windows. I was numb from the shock, but managed to wave back. I was just beginning to get used to the idea that it would not run me down, when it instantly switched directions and turned. The ever dreaded source of my fear was edging closer to me. I could see the propeller whipping through the water. I used my hands and feet to move back as quickly as I could, and the submarine slunk away into the distance, disappearing from view as fast as it had approached. All eyes were then turned on me, as propellers, boat bottoms and most importantly, submarines, are the source of my diving nightmare. I smiled and gave the okay sign. I had survived my first, and hopefully last meeting with The Atlantis Submarine!