My First Scuba Diving Experience - November 2021

Another bustling academic year was coming to an end, leaving me yearning for a holiday. My parents had booked a trip to Andaman, and I was really looking forward to it. We left home the same day my exams got over, and even before we touched down at the Port Blair airport, the view from the airplane window captivated us. Those lush green trees, clear turquoise water, and a tiny island visible from afar were beautiful.

One of the best part of the trip was scuba diving. The water surrounding Andamans is home to one of the densest ecosystems of coral reefs and volcanic lava Hills. Together,  they house some of the world’s most beautiful fishes and sea creatures.  This makes diving in Andaman a truly unique and rewarding experience.

We were going to do scuba diving for the first time. So, first, we were taken for a  training session and a shallow, 3-meter-deep shore dive in North Bay. It was comforting to know that each of us had an individual instructor. We were taught underwater sign language and how to decompress our ears. My instructor soon took me deeper into the sea, and a beautiful turquoise world with schools of colorful fishes unfolded in front of me. My anxiety had vanished entirely. I realized that the key was staying calm and taking deep breaths. The dive was soon over and left me wanting more. 

The next day we departed for Havelock island on a ferry. Havelock was more serene and laid back. We spent the day exploring the lovely island. The next morning, we went deep sea diving. We donned our diving suits and signed the disclaimer forms. We were all set to go, but unfortunately, the dive had to be canceled due to bad weather. I was really disappointed since we were not sure if the weather would be more supportive the next day. We were to leave the following evening. It poured the entire day, adding to the gloom.

Thankfully, the weather cleared the next morning, and it was a bright sunny day. The diving company called to confirm our dive, and soon the van arrived. We got ready incredibly fast, as we were very eager to go.  They took us on a boat to a site called ‘RED PILLAR.’ We had to flip from the boat and go into the water. Again, each of us had an individual instructor assigned to us for safety. This time, we saw many more varieties of fish and corals. I saw clownfish, sergeant major, Moorish idol, and rainbow parrotfish. My favorite was obviously the Nemo! It was pretty fun to have the fishes come so close to you. It was also quite relaxing and quiet down there. All I could hear was my breath. It almost felt like meditation, where I was conscious of every single breath I took. Believe me, when I say scuba diving is a must-try experience for everyone out there! 

After returning to the boat, I decided I wanted to do the PADI certification soon so I could dive anywhere on my own.