Just desserts after illness kept me out of the water for a long time

Just desserts after illness kept me out of the water for a long time...
By Alisa S. Preston, Director and Master Instructor

Last fall...October 29, 2017 to be exact....had been my last dive. It was at Race Rocks, it was short and sweet - gliding over anemone gardens and constantly shadowed by a very large and friendly sea lion, and it ended early because I just felt 'off'. Very quickly upon returning to the surface I descended into a fever and the depths of a flu that kept me bed ridden for the next 4 weeks. Based on my doctors concern that I might never dive again, several months of respiratory treatment ensued, but my return to diving was further thwarted by a torn elbow extensor tendon and complicated dental work. One might imagine that after more than 6 months without being underwater only helps build up the excitement of returning to the sea. Alas, the longer I was out of the water, that excitement turned to dread that my scuba diving days might truly be over; a fear that I just couldn't shake. This led to all sorts of excuses from not being able to go because of the weather, that the vis was terrible, to being too busy getting my hair done (true story) despite being medically cleared to dive. 

Orange Peel Nudibranch

Last week my husband and dive buddy finally had enough, and after an intervention of sorts I succumbed, agreed that I didn't have an excuse, and agreed to go diving.   We made plans for the West Shore this weekend for an easy dive to get back into the water. Despite my happy facade for the sake of the others on the dive boat, I joked with a hint of truth about whether I remembered how to dive let alone maintain my buoyancy, whether I would suck back my air too quickly, or most importantly, whether I could descend at all and be able to breath without bringing on a coughing fit. I needed a sign to snap me out from my self doubt, and I'm thankful one came to us out of the blue (or green based on our local waters).

The vis was poor, my new dental fillings tingled a bit, and the current was more than expected. While there was lots of colour from telia anemones, orange peel nudibranchs, cup corals and sea cucumbers, I was still distracted with the thoughts of worry going through my mind. But then amongst the boulders at Secretary Island off Sooke, BC, we came across just the sign I needed to re-ignite the passion for being underwater.

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There was an octopus ballooned into a strange ball with what seemed like far too many legs. At first this creature had slowed its breathing in hopes of not being detected; it was like a stereogram where your eyes needed to relax and focus on what was truly happening. Then after a while, it started moving about in search of a den and we could see that we had stumbled across the final blow in a fight to the finish between two large male octopuses. The survivor was settling in to enjoy the victor's feast and had cloaked itself around it's competition, leaving only a dangling hectocotylus arm to confirm that the dual had been male versus male. (You can actually see the hectocotylus arm, or the private parts of a male octopus, of both creatures in the video above, and a close up of the losing octopus below. The distinguishing feature is no suckers at the end of the arm).

Hectocutylus Arm of the defeated octopus.

While I know we were extremely lucky to witness the end of such a battle rarely seen by divers, this just reminded me how thankful I am for being able to dive, and to never give up on doing what I love for as long as I can. You just never know what you might find! 

Just remember though, if you have been sick or injured and this has taken you out of the water for a while, before jumping back in it is highly recommended you see a doctor first. Being impatient and not looking after yourself is not worth the risk. But when you are healthy and ready to dive, find a buddy that you are comfortable with and choose an environment that let's you ease back into the flow of diving. I can't promise that you'll start off again with two octopuses hugging it out, but you just never know.

Thanks to the very supportive dive group and surface crew: Kat, Sam, Paul, Jenn, Mike, Neil and Cassandra for making my return to the ocean such an incredible day!   And special thanks to Tyler for helping me remember what I had been missing.

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