Underwater Parade

After a rest day spent taking my theoretical open water diver exam, I was ready to get back in the water and complete the practical part. Our first stop was at Northern Marchena Island, and before starting the official dive, Anderson and I went over some final drills. This time, I had to do an emergency ascent from 6 meters below the surface. It was nerve-wracking but also reassuring to practice something so important.

Once the drills were out of the way, we began the dive. The first five minutes alone were unforgettable—a school of at least 150 spotted eagle rays glided past us like a slow-motion parade. After seeing hammerheads during my last dive and now this, I felt like I could hardly ask for more.

But of course, there was more. We went deeper, down to 18.4 meters—the maximum depth allowed for my certification. The temperature dropped noticeably, and the surface felt so far away. For a while, I was the biggest and slowest creature in sight, until a black-tipped shark crossed our path. Thankfully, not a carnivore.

This dive was my favorite so far. With my buoyancy under control, the sense of weightlessness as I moved through the water was incredible. For the first time, I felt like I was truly part of this underwater world.Read more