How do you describe what it’s like to let the current guide you gently under 60 feet of salt water, plankton, and rainbow-colored fish? Â How can I convey the feeling of looking up and seeing the surface of the water from the under side? Â What words can be said to communicate the feeling I get when I see an octopus, gasp into my regulator, and swim back to beckon my diving buddies while clumsily making the hand gesture “I’ve found one!”?Â
I’ve often said to non-divers who are thinking of taking the literal plunge: as a traveler, it’s another frontier you get to see. Â It’s another world to explore where all of the residents look different, speak another language, and subscribe to a different culture.
Some are curious, and swim circles around you as you descend into the blue.

Is it scary? I’m often asked.
I have never found it to be so. Â Hurling myself off of a bungee platform with a line attached to my ankle? That sounds scary. Â Floating gently in the ocean that always mesmerizes me, whether on shore or descending ever deeper into the blue? Not a chance.
Diving is exhilarating.
Then there’s the little matter of searching and finding things you’ve never seen before, such as a sea turtle, tiny yellow seahorse, puffer fish, or the holy grail; a giant manta ray.
It was the final of my 18 dives over the course of 6 days on a live-aboard ship off the Andaman Coast while diving Thailand with Wicked Diving when I finally saw a manta ray for the first time. We were about 20 minutes into the dive, and I started to worry I had seen all that I was going to see in this part of the sea. Then, a rapid series of taps made their way through the water and to my ears. This was a divemaster out of my line of vision tapping on his air tank – a common way of saying, “something amazing is nearby!
The divers in my group all spun around and looked at each other. Â Where was it coming from? Â Would we have a chance to see whatever this other group had seen? A few minutes later, a giant manta ray, spreading his wings like a majestic eagle, soared overhead.
I let the current carry me, I was so mesmerized. I was so blown away. It was like I was a lifelong birder who had finally seen a rare species that had previously been a mere rumor to me. Â Just as it was all sinking in, another one soared overhead, turned around, and came back my direction, bathing himself in the bubbles emitted from our regulators (they do love the jacuzzi effect – as do I – it’s a nice feeling swimming through the bubbles of a fellow diver).
The rest of the dive is a blur to me. All I can remember is the angelic glide of the ray, his sheer size, and the feeling of finally seeing one after searching for nearly a week.
We surfaced a short while later, feeling gratified, satisfied, and elated by what we had seen. Â One of my dive buddies was still crying tears of joy.
Yes, it is a strange and difficult thing to convey – the true, sheer amazingness of SCUBA diving.
*Thanks to Wicked Diving in Khao Lak for helping to make this dream a reality for me. If you’re considering diving in the Similan or Surin Islands, this is a great dive shop to check out. In the spirit of full disclosure, I was a guest of Wicked but they did not ask that I write a favorable review – they didn’t need to. I had a blast!
Suzanne Fluhr (Just One Boomer) says
As soon as I can conquer feeling claustrophobic when snorkeling, I will have to give diving a try. It looks like we will be in Hawaii for three months next winter for three months. No excuses!
admin says
You can do it! Maybe it will actually help to be able to move around a little more and not have to stick to the surface when breathing.
Steph (@ 20 Years Hence) says
My husband and I have done some pretty cool things since we left on our RTW trip 9 months ago, but by far the best of all was learning to dive! It was something I had been wanting to do for years, and our trip finally gave me the push and the excuse to just do it already. Like you said, I have never found diving scary, even when I am below 60 feet of water and looking down, all I can see is darkness. It’s such a calming, peaceful state to be in… the closest I can ever come to just turning off my brain and simply being.
We really wanted to dive the Similans and Surin islands when we were in Thailand, but in the end, we couldn’t stretch our budget that far; the diving there is so pricey for this part of the world! We head to Indonesia in late July, so I’m hoping we can make up for it there!
admin says
It’s definitely not a cheap hobby!
Dariece - Goats On The Road says
Awesome!
My boyfriend does a lot of diving and has yet to see a Manta Ray. They’re never where they’re “supposed to” be! I’ve tried diving 2 times now and can’t get my ears to equalize. So, for now, I log my snorkels 🙂
Cheers for the post, we’ll have to check out the Surin and Similan Islands next time we’re in Thailand!
admin says
That’s why I was so excited to see one! Doesn’t happen often.
Arianwen says
I find diving a little scary, but when you have the proper instruction, it’s great. I think my problem was that I’d done the PADI course about 7 years earlier and when I next decided to dive, they told me I didn’t need my memory refreshing. Then I got a coughing fit 18 metres down and panicked a bit! Of course, it also didn’t help that I’d only been informed the night before of Steve Irwin’s tragic demise…
Kristin says
That’s surprising to me. Wicked would definitely have suggested a refresher course!
Rika | Cubicle Throwdown says
Lucky!!! I’ve yet to see a manta ray as well, and I think I’ll probably have a similar reaction when I finally see one 🙂 Your description of diving is lovely, and I agree – it can be hard to describe sometimes!
Kristin says
They’re quite majestic 🙂
Khao Lak Explorer says
Amazing dive report, you got lucky with Manta rays !