Underwater Wonderland Scuba Diving Unlocks An Immense And Colorful World That Few People Have Explored

Scuba diving is the ultimate escape.

Beneath the water is a surreal, peaceful world devoid of life’s stresses. An amazing spectrum of weird and wonderful creatures inhabit this silent, underwater world which makes topside seem almost lifeless in comparison. Yet, only .2 percent of the Earth’s population ever gaze in rapt wonder at the planet’s most complex ecosystem.

It’s one thing to revel in the Northwest’s spectacular beauty while hiking through its lush mountains - but there’s nothing quite as awe-inspiring as the serene world teeming with exotic marine life beneath the ocean’s waves.

The abundance of life is unbelievable. The vivid diversity of coral, sponges, invertebrates and fish appears as a silent ghost town, as if everyone in Las Vegas had suddenly vanished, but left the lights on.

During a dive, my senses are heightened. The only sound I hear is that of my own breathing. I “fly” weightlessly over splendid alive walls that plunge to the abyss. I hover effortlessly over the ocean’s living canyons. There is no bottom that I can see.

Diving has allowed me to interact with wild creatures I thought would exist only in my dreams. I have encountered sea turtles, barracuda, stingrays, moray eels, very large groupers, octopuses and a grand school of hammerhead sharks - not to mention gorgeous, colorful tropical queen angelfish, blue tang, sergeant majors (they love Cheese Whiz), and parrot fish.

Sea turtles swim as gracefully as ballerinas dance.

The presence of a toothy barracuda can quicken a diver’s pulse rate - but, like most sea creatures, it’s warily curious.

Stingrays’ mouths are like vacuums and they love to suck squid from your hands - but do this only at Sting Ray City in Grand Cayman, where it’s the thing to do.

Green moray eels appear threatening from their caves and crevices in the reefs. They breathe by opening and closing their mouths, filled with razor-like teeth.

On one dive, I met up with a 4-foot grouper, still and vertical in a cove, as cleaner fish swam in and out of its gills and mouth - reminiscent of an underwater barber shop.

Octopuses have human-like eyes that make them appear deep in thought as they stare at you eye-to-eye before instantly changing colors and dashing away.

Once, in the Sea of Cortez, seven Pacific manta rays cruised into sight like a squadron of B-52 bombers. It was exhilarating to witness their graceful, gentle behavior as they played with one another and with divers.

Another astonishing sight in the Sea of Cortez was a school of hammerhead sharks.

To put this into perspective, I am not Rambo. I am a 5-foot-4-inch woman, 125 pounds, and terribly afraid of mice. Yet, as this huge, gray cloud of some 100, 10-foot-long hammerheads appeared, I actually chased them. They are marvelous, ethereal creatures that move effortlessly. They are timid of divers’ bubbles and would not let us closer than about 20 feet.

Large predatory creatures, such as sharks, may seem scary, but they actually don’t pose much of a threat. Virtually every predator has specific prey preferences, and by nature are cautious of unfamiliar creatures.

Another fear of novice scuba divers is the “bends,” or decompression sickness. Divers Alert Network (DAN), a non-profit organization, provides information on preventing diving accidents and promoting safety. DAN reports that since the advent of U.S. Navy standard dive tables, dive computers and better training, accidents are now rare, with an incident rate of .04 percent. It’s safer than the bathtub.

Diving is the ultimate nature-lover’s sport. If you are 12 or older, and in at least moderate physical shape, you can learn to dive right here. Diving will give your vacation a purpose beyond above-water sightseeing, sun worshipping or shopping. It allows entrance to the peaceful, majestic other 76 percent of our world.

MEMO: Connye Draper is a Spokane writer who has been diving for four years. She says she goes diving every chance she gets.

This sidebar appeared with the story: LEARN TO DIVE Diving instruction is available from the following certified instructors:

Atlantis Aquatics, 534-2144 Divers West, 208-664-0751 Landlocked Divers, 534-7313 Scuba Center of Spokane, 326-4653 Tom’s Diving, 208-664-0852 YMCA, 838-3577