A New World

I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of anxiety as I sat on the edge of the boat, gearing up for my first real dive at Champion Point, just off Floreana Island. My instructor, Anderson, reassured me that rolling backward into the ocean was easier than it seemed, but I still wondered: how would the impact feel? Would I hit the water awkwardly? Would my fins snag on the boat? When the moment came, I leaned back and let gravity do its thing. To my relief, even if I made a big spash, it felt smooth.

We descended together, sinking slowly to about 6 or 7 meters. The underwater world welcomed me with a hush, and the drills from the pool session became second nature in this surreal new environment. Clearing my mask and sharing air felt different down here, but Anderson’s calm presence made it manageable.

Then the real magic began. With the drills behind us, we started to explore—and so did a group of curious sea lions. „What are these strange creatures down here?“, they must have wondered. Their sleek movements and inquisitive eyes gave them an almost otherworldly charm.

Taking my first steps into this new world, I was struck by how much life existed just beneath the surface. Some creatures, like the pregnant Galápagos grouper, were simply hidden from our everyday terrestrial eye. Others, like the stone scorpionfish, were so well camouflaged even here that I would never have spotted them without Anderson’s guidance.
Watch where you step and what you touch! Or even better: don't do it at all!Baca lagi