I used to do soaring, and there is an old saying often credited to Leonardo Da Vinci: "When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return."

Surfers and aviationist all share this common ground. Little did I know, that there is a third member to this passionate family.

There were practically no waves, and the water seemed clear. My wife and son was taking an afternoon nap, and I was busy with the graveyard shift of afternoon web develpment. You know, that one after lunch...

A couple of years ago, I introduced myself to snorkeling when I had to stay in a resort in Tanzania called Mikardi Beach. I borrowed a mask and snorkel from one of my friends in J-Bay, who's dad used to scuba a bit. That was the first and last time. I did capture some of it on video though.

Here's a vid I uploaded to youtube (This is Tanzania, not J-Bay and it was the only piece of rock in a space as big as 5 rugby fields I could find. I did not venture beyond the barrier reef.)

Back to J-Bay, 22 December '09. What to do? I didn't have a mask and snorkel, but recalled the local pawn shop, "Smitties" had some old masks and snorkels lying around in a crate. First I did a proper google and readup on snorkeling safety and what type of masks I should be looking for etc. In terms of safety, one was told to never dive alone. I decided to take my chances, because I could not think of anybody that would do this with me on such short notice and I planned to only play around in the rocks at the regular paddle out spot between Tubes and Point.

I ended up buying a quality mask and snorkel for a mere R 45 at Smitties! I added a diving knife for R 29?! That's for protecting myself against predators, hehe. What a bargain. I rushed over to the Point, where I normally paddle out with most of my surfs, suited up and started playing in the shallow waters.

Much to my amazement, the moment I plucked my face into the water, I was in another world. It did not take long for me to venture a little deeper into the channel and I was simply blown away by the diversity of fish, and their numbers. It dawned upon me that I paddle over these fish on a daily basis and have absolutely no idea of the life that's all around me! I have always been a keen observer in the ocean, and have spotted several sharks before as well as lonesome fish etc. as I was surfing, but nothing could prepare me for this. There were striped fish, spotted fish, small ones, large ones, fat ones, thin ones, even that type that inflates if you upset them. The deeper I went, the bigger the fish became. At some point, I felt a little scared, even though I was right there where I somtimes walked on the reef with my surfboard next to me. I decided to go back to the channel.

I almost got stuck on a mussel bed, but it was much easier to clear since I did not have a surfboard with fins under me. I just used my finger to lift me a little and then a wave pushed me over the ledge back to the channel. That's when my eye caught somthing. I saw a big movement to my right and watched in utter amazement. A stingray! Or some form of ray. It was about as long as my body length from nose to tail. At first I could not understand what I saw, untill the wing like fins appeared and then I got the revelation. I was blown away! How priviledged am I to actually witness this in my backyard. The ray swam away from me and looked very cautiously at me with a big eye. The experience was so amazing for me, that I swam back to the beach and blurted my story out to the first person that looked like he had working ears. Amazing.

I did go back for another round, but had a look on my watch and realized that my family's afternoon nap most probably ended by now and I should be heading home. I never told them I am going to snorkel because they were sleeping.

Funny thing, when I left, two other guys appeared with snorkel gear, and a bag, and right after them a third person appeared with a spear gun. I did see a couple of fish that's large enough to eat, but the last thing I wanted is for the fish to be killed. People are so destructive. The next people I spoke to said that if there's so many fish out there, they must go and throw a net out. For what purpose?! To catch all the fish? And then what? I can understand how people can deplete marine resources in a fragile marine eco system if they reason like this.

By now, my wife is tired of all my snorkel stories, and I have been dreaming all night and morning of going back into the surreal parralel universe of the oceanic jungles on my doorstep. I know I will most probably be rediscovering this beautiful coastline that I have come to love so much in the days to come, but from a different pesrpective altogether. As always, I'll see you in the water!