Diving with Dori and Nemo

I have never seen salt water fish and plants any closer than the ones in my doctor's aquarium or at the Newport Bay Aquarium. The first time we went under the water at Eilat, we were face to fish lips with the bright, colorful fish, invading their underwater paradise as we swam with them around clumps of coral. Sand covered most of the sea floor with large boulders of coral and plant life scattered all around. However, our three training dives on Saturday had us doing more than just enjoying the scenery. Alex, Annmarie and I, and JR and Victoria Rubio(the Marine Gunny and his wife) practiced clearing our masks, taking off our equipment underwater and then putting it back on, buddy breathing, and any other "fun" challenges that Alex thought up for us! The problem solving under the water, in some ways, seemed less challenging than the problems we faced as we prepared to get in the water. Have you ever tried to get into a wet suit?! Those things are like vacuum-packed, second skin. Our PADI instruction book warned us that wet suits were suppose to be snug in order to warm the water that it traps close to your body and that we should not be alarmed or think a wet suit is too small if we have trouble getting in to it. "They weren't joking!" we thought as we hopped around trying to get them on. Once over that hurdle, we hefted up the air tank and BCD so that our buddy could strap it on. Leaning down precariously, we grabbed our flippers and mask and shuffled toward the waves like knuckle-dragging Neanderthals. The added weight on your back off-balances you and makes it difficult to stumble over the rocks and brace yourself against the waves. Once we were in far enough, we took turns stabilizing our buddies as they reached down to attach their fins. Tips to future buddies - be kind and brace your buddy with her face turned away from the breaking waves as she leans down to fasten her fins - a lesson learned. It was a relief to slip under the water, taking a few quick, panicky breaths through your regulator before the you realize that it does work and you can breathe underwater, and kick your flippers behind you as you glide gracefully through the water.

The most striking thing we saw underwater wasn't indigenous to the underwater world. While the visibility was extremely good, there was still the hazy blue curtain that shrouded our field of vision. On one of our dives, we swam after Alex toward our 20+ meter depth. The sand turned to a plush, green carpet of some kind of sea plant. As I lifted my head from the plants and fish below me, I saw a huge shadow looming behind the hazy curtain. Swimming closer, the hazy shadow became a Navy ship, covered in seaweed and plants and resting on the sea floor. We swam around, into, and through the ship, exploring the rooms and decks. It was one of three ships that Israel had bought from the French around the time of the Six Day War. After building the ships and closing the deal, the French experience a change of heart and refused to give the Israelis the ships. Alex's uncle led special ops teams in to steal the ships back. This ship, after being used in the navy, was sunk off the shore in Eilat for divers to enjoy. It was disappointing to turn around and swim toward the shore on our last dive. The last two dives were just for fun with no drills included, and it was beginning to feel natural to ascend, descend, and maneuver under water. Our training was finished, and Alex, the best scuba instructor in the world, could give us our certification.