Anchor Bay - dive three

The sun was still shining bright in the sky as we made our final descent into the waters of Anchor Bay.

This time, the exercise was to perform an emergency ascent.

"You know, for those situations, should you run out of air."

This, I must say was trickier than it sounds.

Task:

• Ascend to the surface.
• Exhale while swimming up.
• Blow up your BCD vest manually once on the surface.
• Perform during a medium current.

First, I didn't actually realize how long time it takes to swim up, even if this was only at 11 meters. Then on top of this, you have to keep exhaling on your way up, at a pace that is fast enough to ensure your lungs don't get ruptured by the expanding air, but at the same time slow enough for the air to last you all the way up.
I must admit, even though I thought it would be easy, I had to try it a few times to get it right.

First attempt, I ended up accidentally inhaling a bit of water - struck by a minor panic and grabbed for the instructor's spare regulator.

"Alright, safe, nerves are back under control - let's go again!"

This time, I made it up. But - completely out of air. Exhaled a bit too fast. Ending up hitting the surface, grasping for air - getting some in but due to the waves, a bit of water as well.

"Two seconds, three - stability. I keep afloat."

"Next step, get more air and inflate the BCD. But remember not to inhale any of the air that may possibly be in there!"

Taking a few breaths, I managed to get it inflated and finally floating in the water. Now was the first time I could breathe properly, without having to worry about water.

This whole scenario took perhaps about 10-20 seconds - but it felt waaaay longer. You start reacting very instinctively when you're out of air...and instinctive may not always be the best way.

"Good thing it was a part of the exercise, as next time the reactions and feelings were different!"

Once all was said and done, we continued our exploration of the bottom - just to make a stop at a small rock formation.

I thought to myself, what is this?

That's when our instructor moved one of the stones and two tiny eyes stuck up through the hole. Just looking at us. Turning from one person to the other.

Then suddenly - a tentacle comes out and grabs the stone that was moved. Holds it and pulls it back to the rock formation.

At this point, I could imagine there being a speech bubble saying: "This one is mine, thank you!"

I may dare to say that it even looked - cute.

"Yeah, I went there!"

 

Yeah, it was a small octopus who took shelter during the sunlight, waiting for the sun to set and the water turn darker.

We decided to leave it alone to rest. After all, we were there to watch, not to disrupt the marine life.

Following this incident, I decided to pay even more attention to the bottom. That's when the crazy fishes seemed to appear. Some were moving along the bottom. Some were flat, manta-style while others were apparently sliding along the bottom on their side.

"To be honest, I'm just intrigued as you as to why they would do that! :o"

 Fishes that really didn't care about us.

Jellyfish in various colours.

Then we also stumbled upon this amazing thing.

It is awesome because of the way it looks.

A small shell, moving slowly along the bottom of the sea. The instructor picked it up, just as he did, we could see the pincers disappearing into the shell.

After holding it for a moment, we could see the pincers come back out and so did the head. Was incredible to see something like this up close, in reality, instead of an aquarium.

After putting the shell back on the bottom, we kept looking at it for a few minutes - seeing what would happen - and it did happen!

The crab got the legs out and - with speed unexpected from such a small creature, in water to boot - it ran off, stirring up a small cloud of sand behind it.

I chuckled to myself and we continued swimming.

Then I saw it, there it was! Just looking at me, poking for my attention. A white and red sea shell, reflecting the light through the water. As if it was calling me in, like a siren's song.

"I'll take that, it will be my souvenir from this!"

Once again, we came out to the streamy part and we had to cross the current to get back to the jetty.

I don't know if it was the tiredness, the CO2 build-up from three consecutive dives or just my eyes, but I could swear that the bottom was moving back and forth beneath me, not that we were moving forward. Think "corky house" attraction in a theme park. (Lustiga huset in Swedish)

But in the end - we made it back.

This, ladies and gentlemen, is what an OWD-certified diver may look like!