Home at Last!

After almost three years, I was back in my grand element!

Slowly, things went back almost normal midway last year and what comes to my mind was not to end the year without the depths therapy. The conditions were getting better and I guess my triumphs were worth celebrating underwater. The only realm where I could have complete peace and silence.

Just as usual, things just fell into place.

I planned for a year-end dive like I used to do in prior years before the pandemic, hoping my favourite dive buddy could come. So, my best choice was in my go-to dive shop which always welcome me with open arms and heart, this warm and homey abode always gravitate my senses. I don’t need to travel far and I can book anytime I need to. I booked two dives and an overnight stay at the dive shop, with a day tour for my team (office) and treat them for a picnic as our Christmas fellowship. Yeah, shooting more birds with one stone. It was Thursday and a holiday, I went alone as advance party and hoping to get my two dives without hassles. It’s been three years…

I left the city late from my usual timetable but nothing to rush, my host assured. The familiar quiet and relaxing atmosphere at the shop greeted me, it was drizzling. The front desk staff was too glad to see me, it’s been awhile he said, and was surprised to see me alone. After settling my stuff in my room, I hastily went down at the shop after some preliminaries and found the boys preparing the gears. I informed Sir Dong that I need some refresher dive before getting to the house reef. My regulator need some safety checks too, sir Dong was kind and had the mouthpiece replaced with no fee! :)

After a Long Break

After gearing up, we head for Red Sands off Sipaka Point for my first dive. It was already 3pm. The waters have calmed a bit going to low tide. My reliable dive guide (Boboy) was hovering from the by-side just to keep watch on me as I coyly went around. It was funny as Boboy signalled arbitrarily pointing his eyes to that something beyond and I need to take a second look, I can’t barely see micros as I don’t have my dailies! And I was wiggling to control my bouyancy when I get shallower, thanks to my wetsuit that totally dried up after more than three years of complete rest! but it felt so good down the waters – emersing in silence in a different dimension. There were trash I gathered as usual, a plastic bottle that almost fossilized lurking in between substrates and few shampoo sachets – gladly it had never deceived my seeking eyes. We surfaced after 60 minutes with my air still 90 bars, went deepest at 23 meters with 30% nitrox! It was drizzling as we sped back to the shores.

That was enough for the day, Sir Dong suggested to have another dive the next morning early and again there is no need to rush as I spent overnight in the resort. I had a good rest after having a quite dinner overlooking the pool. I regained my perfect balm from aching heart, grieving soul, dried up gills and itchy fins!

One Stone, Two Hits

I was up the next morning early to prepare and was praying hard for a good weather. My team at work would come before lunch for our team building cum Christmas fellowship at the picnic area. I need to pack too my stuff for check out after the dive, there wont be much time if done later. I rushed down for my filipino breakfast, taking my time and went straight to diveshop as I was expected at 8am for our dives which was planned at the house reef! Sir Dong was already at the shop preparing his hi-tech cam , just glad he would be joining us in the dive. :) The skies was bit gloomy but just perfect as it wont too hot, it was 930am already and the waters has calmed going high tide.

We sped off for the floaters and anchored, with a giant step splashed to the waters!

Slowly inch by inch holding the line going down, there was nothing at first but halfway some chromis appeared wiggling coyly. The top of shoal is still colorful as ever. The unequalled diversity of marine life is simply engaging, swarm of damsels and chromis abound as we reached the hill.  A big red snapper appeared and I was wondering where the black snappers have gone, The black corals and a variety of hard and soft corals decorated the shoal.  The tangles of soft corals blocking my way felt like I was in the grasslands finding my way out. The pair of friendly octopus was new and a good find, I never had seen one before on the shoal. The pair was watching us and never went away and was observing us too. The perennial lions, chromis and wrasses still abound and it was a joy to find them again. The feeling of more than 100 feet below is still unequalled, weightless and floating peacefully with just the sound of my breath!

My dive guide signalled for ascent and I have to be dependent with him, I don’t have my dive computer as it was due for battery replacement. So, slowly inch by inch again we ascend holding the bouyline, I want to spend the last available minute still immersed in the waters. I went 33 meters deepest for 56 minutes, still with 70 bars at 30% nitrox! It was still gloomy as we surfaced but grateful for a great morning dive.

Sir Dong offered the diveshop for our activity, he said prophetically that it could rain anytime in the afternoon. I was awed he was so certain it would pour, that’s how sea people can read skies and feel the temperature. Then, my work mates just arrived on time after I was done for the post dive nitty-gritty.

The food, fun and laughter was just what we needed for the pile of work waiting back at the office. And it sure did pour and the diveshop was our great refuge! We left in good spirits after dark still drizzling.

I promised the resort staff I would be back soon for more dives. Very soon!