Chapter One: I Put Toothpaste In My Mask
I look doubtfully at the tube of almost-finished toothpaste in my hand. There is barely enough to brush my teeth, let alone my mask. I squeeze a tiny burst into both glasses, and then gingerly raise a finger, mix it around before going to the shower on the dive platform and washing it off. What a waste of toothpaste, I think. Glenn comes over and sees I have done as instructed.
"Good, now when you get up tomorrow morning do it again." he says.
"Um..... I'm not really an early riser...." I try to worm my way out of having to complete my already pitiful supply of toothpaste. I could have had more, Laxmididi was about to put a full tube of Barbie toothpaste when my mother stopped her.....
After I escape my equipment, which is all put together, though mostly by Glenn. How was I to know that the BCD goes on first? As soon as possible, I struggle into my pjs and collapse on the tiny bunk, which I have to share with Devyani. Pretty soon into the night the school week's exhaustion takes over.
"Good morning! Dive time! Good morning! Dive Time!"
A meaningless noise penetrates my fabric of sleep, and I huddle back into my blankets, wanting to get a little more extra sleep before the school bus comes....
"Dive Time!"
Suddenly the noise turns into real words and in a rush I remember I am on a boat, that I am going to scuba dive....
Hastily I get up, as does Devyani as Mahajan Uncle comes and shakes the last blankets from us. We get ready, frowning at the bathroom/closet we have to share with the rest of the unlucky folks on the boat not graced with one in there cabins. Already I barely notice the rocking of the boat. A light breakfast is done, and once downstairs and suiting up, I mentally sigh as Glenn produces Johnson's Baby Shampoo as a substitute for toothpaste. I struggle into my BCD and get up- to immediately regret it. How could I have forgotten the weight of everything? Just two steps..... and I collapse on the dive deck's steps, passing my shampooed mask to a crew member. I look doubtfully at the water as I wait. The only thing I'm scared of, really, is the fact that the water might be cold.
With a big splash, Glenn is in the water, and with two smaller ones, so are Devyani and I. I start breathing the compressed, dry air of the regulator as naturally as ever. Glenn signals to go down, and so we do.
The underwater world never fails to surprise me. I'm not going to be too eloquent describing it.... OK, fine, I am. Coral- like trees poke up, like many fingered giants. Brains have fallen to the sea floor. Bright blue specks dart to and fro, as brightly colored parrot fish make their way through it all. Schools of thin fish with a yellow stripe down the middle (rainbow runners) make their way past in perfect synchrony. I feel so lucky to be able to have the privilege of being a spectator in the place, to be lucky enough as to have the chance to watch this spectacle, for even such a short time. Strange how little has been done to describe.... It's an amazing place, absolutely amazing.
I look doubtfully at the tube of almost-finished toothpaste in my hand. There is barely enough to brush my teeth, let alone my mask. I squeeze a tiny burst into both glasses, and then gingerly raise a finger, mix it around before going to the shower on the dive platform and washing it off. What a waste of toothpaste, I think. Glenn comes over and sees I have done as instructed.
"Good, now when you get up tomorrow morning do it again." he says.
"Um..... I'm not really an early riser...." I try to worm my way out of having to complete my already pitiful supply of toothpaste. I could have had more, Laxmididi was about to put a full tube of Barbie toothpaste when my mother stopped her.....
After I escape my equipment, which is all put together, though mostly by Glenn. How was I to know that the BCD goes on first? As soon as possible, I struggle into my pjs and collapse on the tiny bunk, which I have to share with Devyani. Pretty soon into the night the school week's exhaustion takes over.
"Good morning! Dive time! Good morning! Dive Time!"
A meaningless noise penetrates my fabric of sleep, and I huddle back into my blankets, wanting to get a little more extra sleep before the school bus comes....
"Dive Time!"
Suddenly the noise turns into real words and in a rush I remember I am on a boat, that I am going to scuba dive....
Hastily I get up, as does Devyani as Mahajan Uncle comes and shakes the last blankets from us. We get ready, frowning at the bathroom/closet we have to share with the rest of the unlucky folks on the boat not graced with one in there cabins. Already I barely notice the rocking of the boat. A light breakfast is done, and once downstairs and suiting up, I mentally sigh as Glenn produces Johnson's Baby Shampoo as a substitute for toothpaste. I struggle into my BCD and get up- to immediately regret it. How could I have forgotten the weight of everything? Just two steps..... and I collapse on the dive deck's steps, passing my shampooed mask to a crew member. I look doubtfully at the water as I wait. The only thing I'm scared of, really, is the fact that the water might be cold.
With a big splash, Glenn is in the water, and with two smaller ones, so are Devyani and I. I start breathing the compressed, dry air of the regulator as naturally as ever. Glenn signals to go down, and so we do.
The underwater world never fails to surprise me. I'm not going to be too eloquent describing it.... OK, fine, I am. Coral- like trees poke up, like many fingered giants. Brains have fallen to the sea floor. Bright blue specks dart to and fro, as brightly colored parrot fish make their way through it all. Schools of thin fish with a yellow stripe down the middle (rainbow runners) make their way past in perfect synchrony. I feel so lucky to be able to have the privilege of being a spectator in the place, to be lucky enough as to have the chance to watch this spectacle, for even such a short time. Strange how little has been done to describe.... It's an amazing place, absolutely amazing.
