Global-Mariner

                                                                    DIVING

                                                                     - exoloring "the inner space" -

I'm a diver - - -

This should not come as a surprise to anyone who knows that I also like the sensation of sailing on the surface of the water,- regardless if it's in a high powered speed boat,- or an old traditional wooden sailing ship!

So of course I also like to actually enter the water,- because this is the only way really to become one with the wet element,- and to experience some of the secrets of the ocean, which for most people, is wrapped forever in endless blue sea.

My favorite Frenchman, - Jacques Costeau-, was once asked what he considered his most exiting and interesting dive!

Of course I expected a real wild tale that would knock me out,- but the answer was quite disappointing. He said,- that he could not really refer to any special dive as being the best! All dives are interesting and exiting he pointed out! And it did not matter if the sea bottom was just a plain, flat floor made from gray mud! All dives were "the best",- because there is always "something"!

At that time I was a little bit disappointed by this answer. I did not understand it,- but later I realized, that what Costeau was talking about,- was the "feeling" of it! And that "feeling" is the same every time, regardless if the sea bottom is plain mud,- or you are looking around in an exiting historical wreck,- or a swimming along a vertical underwater wall with stunning life forms!

What is this "feeling" then?? Well,- a fully equipped diver is the most awkward and clumsy living thing on Earth,- as long as he is on dry land! To put it mildly, the equipment is very heavy,- and all your movements are really restricted! But once in the water,- the exact opposite is experienced!

You experience the sensation of being completely weightless,- a feeling you have not had since you left your mother's womb,- and a feeling only the astronauts know about! Under the water you can place yourself in any position you want, because gravity is simply gone!

So are all sounds! There is only silence,- except from the noise that comes from the air hissing through your regulator, and leaving you as millions of bubbles in the water!

In other words: The only sound you hear is that of your own life,- which you don't hear on dry land! And no disturbing stray thoughts in your mind go back in time, - or venture into the future! Only "NOW" and "HERE" is present in your mind - - -

Also the fact, that when you jump into the water somewhere,- then there is quite a big chance, that you are the first human being who has ever been there,- and consequently you don't know what to find or what to experience! That's the "feeling",- and that makes everything else secondary,- and I think that's what Jacques Costeau referred to when he said that all dives are the "best"!

Here is another picture from Lillebælt taken almost the same place as the fish -

Note the very big difference in colors when compared to the fish picture!

This picture is taken without flash,- and reflects the true colors you see under water in Denmark,- where the water is "green"!

In fact,- all the colors are there,- red, yellow, blue-, but the human eye don't see them, because the light from the sun is gradually absorbed by the water,- the more, the deeper you go,- until everything is black!

The red light goes first! It's gone after about only 2 meters! The next one is yellow and at 8 meters,- only the green color is left!

However,- if you bring your own light with you,- then all the colors become visible again, and that's the explanation why the fish picture has all colors,- because here I used flash!

I have lots of under water pictures,- but I will not display so many here,- since my photo equipment for use under water is rather cheap, and with very limited possibilities. Therefore,- being unable to make underwater pictures of professional quality,- then I find it better not to go too far with this in public.

But still it's my hope, that this short diving chapter has tickled and inspired somebody's fantasy, and maybe triggered the desire to try,- and to explore the "inner space" for themselves?

Please do! The sea is the cradle of life on planet Earth! This is where it all started, - so - ,- the sea is our "mother"! 75 % of the world is covered by water! And it's right outside your door! Go for it - - -

                                     Let's start with some shallow water shots - - -

Finish with shallow water

Now further down -

The underwater landscape in Lillebælt is different from other places in Denmark - - -

At several places you swimm out from the beach following a gently sloping bottom, - like anywhere else -, but then suddenly the sand underneath you disappears, - and from the edge of a vertical "wall" you are looking straight down into a big black hole - - -