Getting Lost in the Paradise Or, Paradise getting lost?
My scuba diving experiences
“I still believe in paradise. But now at least I know it’s not someplace you can look for. Because it’s not where you go. It’s how you feel for a moment in your life when you’re a part of something. And if you find that moment… It lasts forever”
~ The Beach (2000)
Back in 2011, I watched a Bollywood movie called “Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara (You won’t get a second life)”. This movie was about three friends who go on a road trip in Spain. Along the journey, they would take part in some adventure sport. One of these adventures was scuba diving. I must have seen coral reef pictures before that movie but the way, they were shot in the movie with such a strong emotion, I was mesmerized.
“You could see tones of coral reefs, all in countless colors, colors you don’t even know the name. The thriving corals made the entire scene pouring with life. Watching thousands of fishes dancing in the chorus was a pleasure to the eyes. I was completely lost into the scene as if in reality, I was feeling the marine life and pushing my hand against the corals, marveling around the fact that such a place existed on earth”.
It was such a heart-touching scene for me; it still is. You can watch it here. This particular scene, I would say; stimulated a strong desire inside me to explore the world which lies beneath.
And then one day, I got a chance to fulfill this desire on a trip to Phuket, Thailand. I took a boat to the famous Phi Phi island. Somewhere along the way, I plunged into the water and was swimming with my face out of the water towards the sky. Storm clouds were brewing in the sky, and a thunderstorm was about to come. It started to drizzle and all of a sudden, I turned and put my face inside the water.
“It was one of the rare moments of life when your mind freezes, and you forget your reality as if all of it is fiction and happening inside your dreams. I could see fishes drifting across the water and gleaming coral reefs all in a variety of shades. I wanted to touch them and say hello to the wonderful creatures out there. I gazed down at them and was overwhelmed by the compelling aura created by them. I was feeling extremely lucky to have witnessed such a stunning sight. A peculiar sensation was gushing through all over my body”.
It was an incredible experience for me. I never wanted to leave that place. It still gives me goosebumps, when I think of that instant. That moment is somewhere preserved in my mind, refusing to let go. And of course, why would I let it go? This trip was, I would say; made me realize and appreciate the precious gem which lies underwater.
Well, the holidays were over, and it was time to go back to reality. I was pretty sure that this was something, which I would do whenever I get the chance. Nothing can beat the experience of going to crystal clear water beach and dive deep into the sea and feel the inner beauty. You tend to forget about the outside world and just let it all go.
The next location was the Oshima island, Japan. As usual, I was thrilled to jump into the water again and couldn’t wait anymore to go inside. In the water, the bright sun rays were streaming in from outside, but I couldn’t see any coral, just some fishes. I thought, maybe after a while, I would be able to see as I had just started.
But you know, there is a voice inside your mind which keeps saying, something is wrong. It was in complete contrast to my previous experiences. There were some barren rocks instead of illuminating coral reefs. I was pondering over the fact that what had happened.
“And then, at that exact moment, a small fish came in front of me. She was coming closer and closer to me. I was touched by her wide-eyed innocent look. She was approaching me as if she wanted to say something to me. She made eye contact with me, and her lips were moving, trying to give voice to her emotions. It was like, she wanted me to save her little planet, or maybe, she was cursing humans to snatch away her utopia”.
Words can’t do justice to what it was like at that instant. I was supposed to enjoy those moments, but my eyes were full of tears. The unendurable realization that what we humans have done to this beautiful place, had engulfed me. I was helpless as I couldn’t do anything for that little creature. This experience had left a deep impact on me.
This article is a tribute to that little fish, I met.
One day, I hope, the paradise will all be the same as it was before humans changed everything. I would go down the same place to meet her, and she would be dancing with thousands of other fishes amidst the glowing coral reefs.
Whenever we think of climate change; we talk about what has been affected up there. I hope, this article would draw the reader’s attention on how climate change has wreaked havoc on our oceans and marine life, down there. Thank you for reading and reach out to me here.