We are often asked why we bother to go through all of the preparation, the packing, the equipment expense, the equipment checking, travel expenses, the difficult air connections, the heat, sweating, bugs, etc. We're also asked why we'd be crazy enough to actually willingly go underwater when there might be evil sharks and other horrible things that might eat us.
After painting this horrible picture of evils and unknown dangers, why in the world would ANYONE want to go on a dive vacation?
Have you ever had a squid decide to check you out? I mean REALLY check you out. As in swim over to you and get closer and closer, until he's TOO close for you to get all of him in the viewfinder. So close that he reaches out with a tentacle and touches your finger to see what you feel like. And so close that they begin mimicking what you're doing so you smile and laugh so hard you flood your mask.
Have you ever seen a frogfish? The look as if they are a part of the scenery until you see a little tiny lure come up and wave off of the sponge. A closer look reveals something that looks like another piece of sponge. Closer still, you see an eye, and a mouth. Since he doesn't know you've spotted him, he doesn't move very much and lets you take his picture.
Have you ever seen a seahorse protected by a crazy damsel fish? As you set up to take the seahorse's picture, the damsel fish flits over and CHOMPS your finger. He protects the seahorse from evil you and your evil flash. So you have to think of ways to outsmart a fish to get your photograph.
How about the way a cleaning shrimp lives inside an anemonie and waits for someone or something to come by, then goes into a little dance to attract your attention and tell you he is "open for business." His antenna twitch and wave around, telling you he wants to clean. If you float just right and move your hand towards him just so, he will float out of the anemonie and onto your hand, where he will clean your fingernails of microscopic plankton he likes to eat.
Have you ever wanted to fly? Just drift above the scenery, moving at will, and feeling you are queen of the universe, above it all, then drifting softly down to get a closer look at a goldentail eel who is searching for lunch.
When a turtle allows you to swim with him, eye to eye, wondering what he is thinking; when a dolphin willingly comes to you in the open ocean and allows you to touch him; when an octopus stops what she is doing to look at you, then blow water at you when you get too close, then you know that it's all worth it.
I have never felt closer to nature and to the earth than when I am underwater with all of the teaming life. It is where the Goddess is most alive and revealed to me. And I would gladly go through all of the hassle and annoyance, just to be close enough to touch her face.