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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Muck Tales from Teluk Nara

Off the North-West coast of Lombok, Indonesia, there are a series of idyllic bays, secluded white sand beaches and long stretches of undisturbed coastline. Far away from the hustle of nearby Bali, this area is yet to be discovered by tourism; wherein lies its beauty.

Indonesia is fast emerging as a travel destination because of the increasing network of convenient air connections, not to mention the growth of the international airports in Denpasar and Lombok.

One reason that the massive Indonesian archipelago is visited, is due to its access to some of the world`s best dive spots. The country`s location in the Coral Triangle (an area that marine scientists believe to be the cradle of all marine life), means that the biodiversity is unrivalled.

It is well known that some of the best underwater adventures are to be had in and around the islands of Bali, Lombok, Flores, Komodo and Sulawesi. Not to mention here at Karang Divers on Gili Air. These sites have seen a massive increase in interest from overseas visitors and are frequently hailed as some of the world`s top emerging destinations.

However, due in the past to poor infrastructure and high costs, many of these stunning spots have remained elusively remote, being accessible only by exclusive 5 star resort or luxury charter liveaboard.

But things are changing. Nowhere more obviously than the newly discovered Teluk Nara bay, on the North West coast of Lombok. Within only an hours drive from the new international airport, and only 20 minutes away from the dive opportunities on the three Gili Islands, Teluk Nara is a dive destination in its own right.

For years, keen divers have flocked to an area called the Lembeh Strait, just off the coast of Sulawesi. Here, they take part in a very particular kind of scuba diving known as `muck diving`.

For the uninitiated, muck diving is a very specific art form. The conditions are generally silty/muddy, with low visiblity and a need for good buoyancy. But divers don`t dive in these areas for no reason…they hunt out the strange, the peculiar and the wonderful.

Certain marine creatures can only be found in conditions like these, and they are an underwater photographer`s dream! Not only are there frog fish, seahorses and tiny, blue ringed octopus, but also, the elusive mimic octopus, ornate ghost pipefish and a whole host of other critters not found anywhere else.

The joy of Teluk Nara is that it still remains a secret; unlike the famous Lembeh Strait, divers are not limited only to an enormous budget staying at an all-inclusive resort. Nor is Teluk Nara difficult to reach…SilkAir and Garuda run flights directly onto Lombok, and with Air Asia primed to begin international flights this year, this little gem will not stay quiet for long!

There is also the fact that accommodation options are so varied here on Gili Air; you can have lovely bathrooms and air-con, or go along the route of bargain-basement shack on the beach; the choice is yours!

One of the best reasons to visit this particular part of the world is the volume of choice. With our island, Gili Air, being only 20 minutes away, we were able to take divers yesterday for two nice long dives. Of course, we saw lots of cool and wacky little critters, but even underneath the pier itself makes for great visuals. Soft corals and clams cling to ancient-looking ropes, and troops of squirming catfish patrol the shallows.

This choice, access to stunning reefs as well as astounding muck diving, makes Teluk Nara and Gili Air a must-see for divers interested in an unforgettable experience.

This isn`t the jam-packed scuba factories of Thailand or Egypt; its desert island paradise, with underwater adventures thrown in! What more could you want?

p.s. If this all seems like one enormous advert for Gili Air and Karang Divers, you would guess correctly. The End

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