On Christmas Eve, a few remotes and I went to a local brewery to hang out and enjoy the cooler weather. Remote Year had hired a local chef to make a Christmas Eve meal of traditional Indonesian food at our villa. We enjoyed the meal and then presented our Secret Santa gifts. It was really fun to see everyone open their presents, and see the creativity from our group - gifting things that are easy to travel with. Our group also had Christmas Day brunch, then Alex and I head to the spa for a 3-hour green tea treatment.
The next day, a good portion of our group went snorkeling. This experience is hard for me to share about as a truly positive one, so here goes.
We began our day on a ferry ride to Nusa Penida. It was a little gray and the ride was somewhat bumpy, but all around seemingly a good, low sun day to be out on the water. We were told our plans changed because the currents were too rough at Manta Bay, so instead, we stayed closer to the harbor for a few snorkeling spots. Our first site was really nice, we saw some coral, and many fish, and I saw lobsters, crabs, and more. Our second spot was really choppy - it was hard to see things because of visibility, but we did the best we could to see fish and coral. Then, we jumped in for our final snorkel spot, and it was like being in a Disney ride - we were moving with the currents so fast, you did not need to swim at all. I popped my head up after seeing a turtle, and suddenly, we were about to enter the harbor, with bridges and boats that we needed to quickly avoid. I signaled to our group to focus and keep their head above water and get back to the boat. Most of the people I was with made it underneath the bridges and navigated out of the harbor okay.
Back on the boat, we began trying to be sure we had everyone. We later discovered a few of the people in our group were picked up by other boats. There were just a few people that were headed toward the boat. One person could not grab onto the boat in time and was dragged away by the current into a whirlpool, which was created by our boat. She struggled for at least five minutes, and none of our guides jumped in. One person in our group ended up swimming to her and both were saved by pure luck.
It's hard to share this experience with more depth because it's not my story to tell. I want to promote what the survivor decided to share, instead. It was a really traumatizing experience for all of us, and it felt hard to enjoy the day, and even look back on this experience as a positive one.
In an attempt to rebuild my relationship with the ocean - in preparation for a scuba diving course I was signed up for - I decided to spend the next few days surfing and "diving" into my PADI Open Water Diving course.
In complete contrast to the non-existent safety protocols followed by the company, Nusa Penida Explorer, the PADI Open Water Diving Course was incredibly thorough and highly engaging. Our first dives were in a local pool, where we learned how to use all of our equipment, and practice some basic skills, such as clearing our mask and CESA breathing. I felt nervous about our open water dives, given everything that had happened, but they ended up being incredible.
Our first open water dive was Tulamben, a popular dive site located on the northeastern coast of Bali. The main attraction of the site is the USAT Liberty shipwreck, a cargo ship that was torpedoed by a Japanese submarine during World War II and later beached on the shore of Tulamben. The shipwreck now lies just a few meters offshore and can be easily accessed by divers of all levels. The wreck is covered in coral and marine life, making it an ideal spot for both recreational diving and snorkeling. The wreck is home to a wide variety of marine life, including schools of tropical fish and sea turtles. Tulamben is also known for its clear visibility, making it a perfect destination for underwater photography. As our first dive site, it was simultaneously incredible and off-putting to be so close to, and even inside of, a large structure covered in coral.
Our second dive site was Padang Bai Blue Lagoon which is known for its crystal clear waters and rich marine life. The site is a sheltered bay with a depth of about 12 meters and is considered an easy dive suitable for both beginners and experienced divers. We saw a wide variety of tropical fish, including cowfish, lionfish, clownfish, sea turtles and even a reef shark!
I want to thank Intrinity Divers for preparing an absolutely wonderful experience, end-to-end, and making me feel safe and confident in the water.
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