My First Diving

It was a Saturday evening we went to VianiBay from Savusavu island, for an outreach program. We left Savusavu Island around 3 p.m. and it was a one-and-a-half-hour drive to Buka bay. From Buka bay, we had to take a boat ride to VianiBay. It was a marvelous journey of one hour, surrounded by green beautiful islands on the way to VianiBay. It was almost sunset, and we were heading toward the open ocean of the Pacific. The sunset was astonishing and the Boat ride Was unforgettable.

By the time we arrived at VianiBay Marina and Joney welcomed us as the co-owners of dive Academy. Joney and Marina were down-to-earth people who ran the dive academy with the help of local divers and local hotel staff. Dive Academy is a PADI-certified Institute where you can learn to dive.

Joney is a Fijian, and he is a free diver. Marina is a French lady who is a PADI-certified dive master.

I’ve never been in deep water, whether it is the sea or a pool. but luckily, I had some experience floating in the water. My colleague was also a dive master end she badly wanted me to have the experience of diving.

As I said, it was almost 6.00 pm ,when we reached Viani Bay. Both my colleague and I couldn’t resist the clean and clear blue water so we jumped into our swimmers and had a quick bath in the sea. As I didn’t know how to swim, I was floating in the water looking at the sky above me. I could move here and there, but I didn’t want to go to the deep water as I knew I would panic.

Since I could float, Marina-dive master offered me a discovery dive the next day. So we were in the shallow water and she was teaching me the basic skills of diving. Examples recovering the mouthpiece, controlling buoyancy, clearing the mask, etc. I was good at it but I couldn’t clear my mask at all. I tried very hard for almost 1 hour to clear my mask but I couldn’t. then I gave up diving that day and went snorkeling with Joney.

Beforehand I told Joney that I cannot swim so he told me not to worry and he will take care of that , just come with them, and let’s do some snorkeling. So that was a confidence booster for me. I got into the boat and went with the crew. I made up my mind one way or the other. I’m going to do this, no matter what

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So there were four divers, including Joney, and I was prepared to snorkel. Joney gave me a life, jacket, and snorkeling gear. We waited till others go diving. Then Joney and I went snorkeling.

First time in my life, I could see the wonders of the sea. Colorful fish, breathtaking corals, clams, and various types of sea plants. I felt that I am so lucky to see them with my own eyes. The divers and dive, masters, spoiled me for the good. They gave me a life-changing experience that I have never experienced.

Breathing through a snorkeling gear, wasn’t difficult for me. As I had the lifejacket I could float. The only thing I had to do was to move by kicking my fins.

Joney was very helpful with training me, so I tried several times to clear my mask which I couldn’t do with the Marina.Finally I was able to do it. I don’t know why it was easy for me to clear my mask while I was snorkeling.

After almost 1 hour off snorkeling, we went back to the resort and had some snacks, and went for another snorkeling. As they said they were spoiling me for the good. I didn’t have much money with me, but I didn’t want to let it go without a fight, the divers and dive masters knew, that I cannot swim very well, but they always encourage me to try this.

On the second day, I wanted to complete my discovery dive with Marina. So we started the basics in the shallow water that time I could clear my mask and I could perform basic diving skills. So we went for a dive.

I didn’t know how deep we were going to go. We just practiced buoyancy, keeping up the speed and we did breathing exercises underwater. I dived with Marina for an hour and the hardest part for me was to maintain the equilibrium in my ears because we were in shallow water, but the fun fact is I was 6 m deep in the water which is not a simple thing for me. Indeed, I didn’t see many sea creatures, coral fish, or anything interesting but being 6 m deep underwater was a world record to me.

VianiBay is a very popular diving spot around the world. It’s famous for the rainbow reef in this area. We can see various types of fish, corals, and especially the cabbage patch, which is the largest cabbage patch in the world. I was lucky enough to see that cabbage patch while I was snorkeling.

The next day morning dive was near the purple wall. The purple wall is made up of purple corals and the fish that are living there. As per the divers and dive masters, even if we dive in the same spot every day, it would be a different experience each day. you might see something completely different every day, So diving is not a boring hobby or a sport.

Marina and I dived after other divers, and it was an amazing experience I have ever had in my life. Colorful corals schools of fish, and various kinds of sea plants. Most importantly, the freedom, to hear your breath and keep breathing, and looking the world around you, was., an unforgettable experience. As I couldn’t control my buoyancy very well I wanted to stay far from the corals because I didn’t want to damage them. Indeed, I didn’t know how to swim but with my fins, I could move very well, so I guess I could swim. The fun fact on that day was, I was 12.3 m underwater.