Crossing the reef

Saturday I dived Purple Cave. My first dive outside the reef. The morning was perfect and I had the anticipation of a very special dive. Inside the reef the water was mirroring Lion Mountain on the other side of Grand Port as well as a few lost clouds. We geared up and started a surreal boat ride crossing the mirror of crystal clear water.

Once we reached the site we had a detailed briefing of what to expect when diving Purple Cave, but it did not prepare me for the beauty that I descended into. As we reached our desired depth and I started looking around, I realised there was a healthy coral diversity of which I could recognise quite a few from my coral recognition course. The theory suddenly became alive as I swam surrounded by my beloved corals. Healthy corals! I was so excited that I wanted to remove my regulator and start babbling about the beauty of it right there and then, but that had to wait.

On our left was a high lava wall. In the briefing we were told that it would feel like mountain climbing, as this wall was as high as one. I had a surreal flying sensation, like a bird flying along this underwater mountain. Then we felt the surge, which I was ready for. I was buddied up with the dive leader and Charlotte and Sahvannah followed us as we moved through the surge. My most relaxed surge experience to date. In one area the sandy bottom formed steps. It looked like someone built a garden path through my coral garden!

We approached the arched cave and entered in single file. We were warned to expect lion fish on the cave ceiling and the bottom had corals and such, so buoyancy was more important than ever. I was very pleased with my control and completely in awe of the experience of entering what felt like a cave, bubbles gathering and patterning the ceiling of the cave. It was light inside as there were a couple of holes in the ceiling of the cave where light could penetrate right to the bottom. I did not feel the need to use my flashlight as I could see clearly and was less interested in the lobsters hiding than the coral and the new specie of nudibranch I spotted.

I easily distinguished the beautiful Moorish Idol from the Reef Banner fish, of which I still felt uncertain in my previous dive. There were smaller very distinct yellow fish that I am still trying to identify. Upon exiting the cave I was swimming over leather corals with the most beautiful intricate structures. There were brain corals and violet Encrusting Montipora. Charlotte pointed out another one of the newly discovered black and white Nudis. The largest Nudibranch that I’ve seen to date!     

I checked my pressure gauge. It had dropped to 70 bar! How did that happen? We were only around 35mins into the dive! I informed my buddy immediately and he indicated that I should hang and take it easy. So I was very happy to hover above my coral garden and focussed on slowing down my breathing, allowing the others to look for more lobsters and other critters.

Here’s the thing – NOTE TO NEW DIVERS. When I started diving and studying the theory I became aware that discomfort under water, anxiety, fear, bad buoyancy control and trim, kicking too much or wrong, swimming in a surge or current and some more challenges affects your air consumption, because you breathe too fast. Never, never ever, did it enter my mind that getting excited about what you experience, because of the surrounding beauty and being awe struck, (while feeling absolutely comfortable and happy with your skills) would make you breathe faster! Lesson learnt!

My buddy, the dive leader called me closer when I reached 30 bar and gave me his Octo-regulator so we could buddy breathe for the last couple of minutes of the dive and the safety stop, allowing the dive to continue for a few minutes longer. How absolutely cool is that! I was very comfortable with the arrangement and relieved that my excitement did not cut the dive short. Furthermore I had the extra experience of refreshing my buddy breathing skills! I must mention here that it was not a deep dive and the conditions were perfect. There was zero risk in the arrangement.

When we reached the surface, I could remove the regulator and start babbling with excitement! Words, words and more words and exclamations. What a super experience! My best dive yet! I have just extended my stay here with 3 weeks. I need more of this!

Lynette Gerber-Lochenkov

June 2023