Scuba Diving Adventure in Dubai

Scuba Diving Adventure in Dubai.

It was April 2024 when we were living in Dubai and planning a getaway for our Anniversary. We were so busy with our work at the office that we couldn’t plan anything well in advance. Turns out, the flight tickets for our favorite destinations skyrocketed and travel costs that resembled a rocket launch on its way to Mars grounded us.

Well, Disappointment hung heavy, threatening to dampen our celebratory spirit. We couldn’t just let the day fizzle out, could we? Dubai, the city of extravagance and outlandish experiences, had to hold something, anything, to salvage our special occasion. The usual tourist attractions – the towering Burj Khalifa, the sprawling desert safaris, the glitzy malls – had all been ticked off in previous adventures. We craved something unique, something that would leave us breathless (not literally, this time).

I scrolled through options on what could be done to make it special but none seemed exciting. Just as I was about to resign myself to a predictable dinner date, a sponsored ad on Instagram shimmered into view, like a desert mirage promising an oasis.

The Plan for Scuba Diving

It was an advertisement for scuba diving, right here in Dubai, for a ridiculously reasonable price – a mere 299 AED per person! It was an Eid offer, and with its festive spirit, it felt like a sign. The adventurous side of me, the one that thrives on adrenaline and exploration, did a little celebratory jig. Honestly, this was my saving grace!

Now, there was a tiny detail – my wife isn’t exactly on speaking terms with deep water. She could handle a refreshing dip in a pool, but the vast unknown of the ocean held a certain level of terror for her. Keeping the scuba surprise under wraps, I booked the experience online. The package promised a comprehensive 20-minute training session, a heart-pounding 20-minute dive with complimentary photos and videos, and even a wetsuit – all the bells and whistles for a beginner’s underwater odyssey.

The day of our anniversary arrived, and it was time to unveil my surprise. Let’s just say the initial announcement wasn’t met with cheers and celebratory cartwheels. The image of her, gills and all, gracefully gliding through coral reefs wasn’t exactly what she envisioned for our special day. But with a hefty dose of reassurance (and maybe a slight exaggeration of the “breathtaking underwater world” awaiting her), I managed to convince her to give it a shot.

We had our slot booked at 9 AM local time. Boarded a cab from the hotel and reached the dive center in a few minutes. The dive center itself was a sight to behold. Professional-grade equipment lined the walls, gleaming under the bright lights. The atmosphere crackled with the energy of certified divers, their conversations peppered with tales of underwater conquests.

I approached reception and confirmed my booking. She briefed us about the center and then asked us to wait until the trainer came. Huh, Who likes to wait? Anyway, I started exploring the center and found something to get rid of my boredom. In a corner of the waiting area, sat a vintage gaming console – a Mortal Kombat machine! While I unveiled my inner kid and engaged in the game of Mortal Kombat, my wife slowly started to warm up to the idea of scuba diving.

Our trainer, a friendly fellow with a reassuring smile, arrived shortly after. After a brief introduction, we were ushered into a classroom for the pre-dive briefing. There were eight of us in total, a motley crew of eager adventurers. Little did we know, we even had a Bollywood celebrity amongst us– someone who’d graced the silver screen in movies like “Dum Laga Ke Haisha” and “Badhai Ho”! That was an unexpected bonus, adding a touch of excitement to our underwater escapade.

The training session was thorough and informative. We learned about hand signals, buoyancy control, and the all-important art of breathing underwater – a skill that felt as unnatural as tap-dancing on the moon at first.

Finally, it was time to suit up. The wetsuits, initially a source of amusement, were deemed unnecessary by our trainer. Apparently, the weight and potential discomfort underwater outweighed any perceived warmth benefits. Well, I quickly went inside a wetsuit and got my pictures clicked. That’s all that I wanted.

We headed towards our van after changing our clothes and submitting them to a locker. A short van ride later, we arrived at the designated beach. The sight of the vast ocean, shimmering under the afternoon sun, sent a thrill coursing through me. The diving equipment, however, felt like a leaden weight strapped to my back.

The initial training in the shallow waters was an exercise in controlled panic – that first breath underwater is an experience in itself. The trainer gave us all the time to be comfortable under the water and watch our breath. My wife, unfortunately, couldn’t overcome her initial discomfort and decided to sit this adventure out. It was scary for me as well but I thought of giving it a try.

Finally, it was time for the real deal. We descended, and wow! The calmness of the ocean world was unlike anything I’d ever experienced. It was serene, almost meditative. Despite some initial dehydration and discomfort (which I signaled to the trainer), I pushed on, determined to enjoy the experience. Our first dive lasted for 15 minutes due to my discomfort.

The second dive was the highlight. We swam among colorful fish and, well, some not-so-natural coral reefs (Dubai has its secrets!). The time flew by, and before we knew it, we were surfacing, exhilarated and refreshed. That was the first time I experienced the ocean this close. It was extremely calm yet frightening.

Well, the time passed in jiffy and our 20 minutes soon finished. The trainer deflated our equipment and bam, we were on the surface in nanoseconds. It was such a refreshing dive and gave me another perspective on how beautiful the world is under the water. Controlling your breath isn’t an easy task and teaches many things about life.

Soon we came to the shore and were taken back to the center. Back at the center, with water and snacks in hand, we reminisced about our underwater adventure. It wasn’t exactly the exotic getaway we envisioned, but it turned out to be a fantastic anniversary surprise – a shared experience that left us with unforgettable memories.

To book diving excursions with Bermuda Scuba Dive, you can visit their official website.

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