Dive Dorks

Whilst watching a TV show called `30 Rock`, I witnessed a scene where a group of `idiots` are seen to be protesting against a “lack of equal rights for idiots and dumb people the world over”.

Amongst the dumb people in the protest are models, those who live on the Jersey shore, country hicks from the deep south, and scuba fanatics. The protagonist, Liz Lemon, grimaces in disgust when a dive enthusiast utters the words “it’s a whole other world down there!”.

I have to admit, I did laugh at this, but I instantly felt stung…indeed, it made me question; whether I am in fact a dumb person. Perhaps I am a dork? Certainly, there is a lot of technical speak and jargon in diving, but does that mean that all dive fans are the underwater equivalent of train-spotters?

Here at Karang Divers on Gili Air, we often sit around on our wooden beruga after dives and chat about what we saw…in fact, that is half the fun of diving! One guest of ours highlighted a major point recently;

“You know, you guys spend an awful lot of your lives talking about fish don`t you? Its kinda weird and isn`t it?”

Now, he meant it in jest (at least I think so anyway) and he does have a point, but I couldn`t help but feel a little like I was a teenager again, queuing up outside the Angel Hotel in Cardiff, South Wales, ready to attend the annual sci-fi and star trek convention. (Side-note, he did leave a very flattering Tripadvisor review for us, so I am not complaining!)

One of the interesting points here, is the idea of passion; with enough passion, one can spend time talking about anything; vintage film posters, romantic novels, exotic fungus, certain types of birds. The same goes for underwater adventures; with so much going on around you, I feel that there is plenty to talk about. But whilst explaining about the Advanced Fish I.D course, one potential student said that

“I`m not really interested in learning about the different names, I mean, they are all fish aren`t they?`

Surely someone who has aims of becoming a Padi Divemaster should have even a tiny bit of interest in ichthyology? (I have been wanting to use that word for a while now).

Either way, I came to the conclusion that I would rather be a dive-dork and ramble on about fins/feeding patterns/colour patterns; it`s what I do for a living! Apart from that, I read an interesting quote from William Beebe, the famous diving pioneer and naturalist who, in 1930, broke world records for a human underwater using technology…he said this about his experience under the waves;

“There came to me at that instant, a tremendous wave of emotion, a real appreciation of what was momentarily almost superhuman, cosmic, of the whole situation; our barge slowly rolling high overhead in the blazing sunlight, like the merest chip in the midst of the ocean…we human beings…peered into the abyssal darkness, as we dangled (weightless) in mid water, isolated as a lost planet in outer space”

If that doesn`t sum up the idea of diving being a `whole other world`, I don`t know what does!

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Drift Danger

In scuba, there exists something called drift diving. To many, it’s a whole different kind of experience which completely changes the dive. Generally speaking, a drift dive takes place when the current, or water movement is so strong, that one doesn`t even swim to reach a destination. The diver in question just crosses his or her arms, maintains good posture in the water, then lets the current do the rest.

To understand drift, one first has to have knowledge of currents; this is taught on most Padi Open Water courses, and then in even more detail on the advanced / Divemaster levels.

A current, simply put, is a continuous, directed movement of water generated by various factors including (but certainly not limited to) the effects of wind, positioning on the globe, water depth and weather patterns.

In terms of drift diving, current is crucial to take participants over a much greater distance in a shorter space of time. Drifts also provide opportunities for varying underwater encounters. Big shoals and large pelagic fish such as rays and sharks often use strong drifts as passage.

A memorable scene in Pixar`s `Finding Nemo` depicts sea turtles as using a drift to `surf` their way down the great barrier, which is precisely the reason that many divers enjoy drift so much…the adrenaline rush that comes from such experiences is un-matched.

Here at Karang Divers on Gili Air, we often take adventurous divers to sites that drift is commonly present; such as the aptly named `Shark Point` and `Deep Turbo`…Turbo being the operative word.

But current isn`t always welcome in diving; for beginners, current can be something of a nightmare…often, one finds fighting a strong current fairly exhausting, not to mention the body positioning that is required to reduce `drag` in the water (much in the way a racing car is streamlined to minimise resistance from the air…the same goes for divers underwater)

I decided to mention this today as, currents, as exhilarating/difficult as they can be, are unpredictable. A site can have ripping water movement one moment, then only an hour later, nothing at all; all this, due to the wonders of nature on earth.

This morning, Karang Divers took some advanced divers to a site just off the south coast of Gili Trawangan. After conducting our briefing and buddy check, we noticed how strong the current seemed on the surface, but once in the water, it became clear that diving in such a turbid drift was not going to be possible.

As a Padi professional, one is taught to always exercise caution (this is something our Divemaster candidates will be learning from next week when they arrive), not to mention, a healthy dose of good judgement. Safety has to come first, after all, diving though an adventure, is meant to be fun.

This is something that we at Karang Divers, and I am sure every dive outfit on Gili Air, practices. Knowing your customer`s experience level, gauging their comfort in the water, and making careful decisions is drummed into us at every level. Indeed, an IDC at our neighbouring dive shop is taking place right now, which is a test of new instructors to ensure they have passed all levels and standards set by their governing body (in this case, Padi). In fact, the main reason that Instructor candidates fail their practical assessments is due to lack of safety in the water.

Lets not forget that diving at times has a bad reputation…the last thing the industry needs is new instructors taking undue risks in the water. In conclusion, Drifts are great, and the same can be said of general current; as long as everyone involved knows how to manage themselves effectively in the water…that’s all that really matters in the long run.

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Positive Outlook

When I trained as a Padi Divemaster back in Mexico, my then Instructor Claire Shokr gave me some invaluable advice…

“No matter how your day is going…if you are hung over, really ill, love sick or just plain p****d off, it doesn`t mean squat. You are a Divemaster, and when you are a Divemaster, every day is your birthday. If everyone around you has faces like slapped a***s, you`ve gotta pick yourself up, get on with it, and have the best dives you have had all week!”

Now, apologies to sensitive readers; Claire is from the North of England, and swears like a sailor. But her point is clear. When you work in an industry that is supposed to be so much fun, you can`t afford to be the miserable one. Having a positive outlook is crucial not only for customer relations, but also for your own mental health.

Whilst running Karang Divers, here on Gili Air, this motto has become something of a mantra for me, and the one other instructor, Dante. With only two people managing the day-to-day business, classroom sessions, diving, and social aspect, the risk is even higher! If one of us has a bad day and lets everyone know that, this equates to 50% of our workforce being a source of negative energy. When put like that, it sounds pretty damaging doesn`t it?

But this isn`t only about general mood, as, perception can be a funny thing, and all it takes is a few negative comments, and the atmosphere is brought all the way down.

To stave off being too vague, I shall provide an example; this time of the year on the Gili islands, the visibility is reduced due to plankton in the water and strange weather patterns. But rather than talk about how `rubbish` the vis is, its important to highlight the plus side to this phenomena;

1) Diving becomes more of an adventure

2) The water is slightly cooler which allows for a more refreshing time in the water

3) Larger fish are attracted to the islands due to the increase in nutrient-rich water

4) The dive sites take on a new character…one ends up seeing areas in a whole other way thanks to the reduced visibility…

You can see where I am going with this, yes? My point is that people pay a lot for diving (lets be frank, its worth every penny, but diving is not a cheap past-time is it? Not compared to reading, snorkelling or trekking). So why pay so much for a dive and have it spoiled by a misery Mike, or whining wendy?

There is a general rule in the diving industry that there is “no such thing as a bad dive. Every dive is a great one”. For some people, this is very hard to swallow. But its all about what one focuses on.

Years ago, when diving in Costa Rica, (this was before I became an instructor), I came up from a dive and actually said `That was an ok dive I guess. There was only one manta though, and it was pretty small wasn`t it? Also, I can`t believe how dead the coral was`.

I looked over my log book later on and realised that I had spent about 50 US Dollars to be bored and under-whelmed. I was ashamed of myself. What an utterly complacent and ridiculous thing to say! I vowed from that day on, never to have another bad dive…and I haven`t since.

The trick is to approach every dive like an adventure, and, by the end of the dive, make sure you are focused on at least one thing that made it worthwhile.

`I have never seen a lionfish behave like that before`

`That’s the first time I have seen that particular species of angelfish`

or even, as simple as

`I really enjoyed the topography of that site…the boulders were pretty cool`

Ok, so it may sound a little naff to have to `search` for a positive on a dive, but otherwise, there is a risk that one becomes a member of the rare, but vastly annoying ` Bunaken Bunch`.

“When I was in Bunaken, we saw a, b,c, d, e etc. Also we already saw those in Bunaken. When I was in Bunaken, I saw 20 in a big group…the colours were much brighter, the water was warmer, and cleaner. I`m not interested in seeing turtles…I saw loads in Bunaken”

Don`t get me wrong, Bunaken marine park is beautiful, and diversity is high. But the diving around the gilis is fabulous too…fabulous in its own right. Anyone who says they are bored of seeing huge ancient sea turtles, glide past them in the water, is bored of life in my opinion.

Diving is a privilege, and takes effort…by having a positive outlook and capturing at least one brand new experience from each and every immersion, one can have thousands of underwater adventures, and still find diving a thrill!