This article is the second from my silent-for-the-most-part partner Alan. We are very lucky in many ways, but I particularly love how many passions and past-times we share. In the last few years we’ve shared many laughs, tears and ridiculous photos as we’ve explored new activities on, in and under the sea. Alan takes this opportunity to share his love for the wet stuff.
Travelling around the world has taught me many things: how to cross a road through a wall of traffic, how to get by with the international language of pointing, and how elephant crap really isn’t the worst thing you can walk through barefoot. But most of all, it’s made me realise my obsession with the sea.
Longing to get wet
Obsession may be the wrong word. I suppose it’s more of an addiction. The sense of relief I feel as soon as I see the Big Blue again is overwhelming. Give me mountains, give me rock climbing, downhill biking, skiing, hiking and trekking, but a walk on the shore with the water washing over your toes is a feeling that can’t be beaten.
This affliction has been duly noted on our journeys. We’ve found ourselves addicted to scuba diving; the crystal clear (mostly!) waters and abundant marine life have been fascinating. Not to mention the underwater ship graveyards and giant transport vessels, forever sleeping on the seabed that we’ve explored. We’ve become so hooked that it only takes the mere mention of a NITROX course to make us get the credit card out.
Making new friends underwater
We’ve also found ourselves on top of the water, as opposed to under it. In our brief time in the UK this summer, we undertook our Day Skippers course. We’re now qualified to take charge of cruising yachts, be it on pleasure cruises, boat delivery work or crewing for someone else’s dream adventure. Our credentials have been expanded on this front too, by taking our VHF radio course, to put us further up the professional progression ladder. This is far from a fleeting fancy, as I couldn’t even wait until the end of the course to start eyeing up boats for sale and doing the sums . Coastal skipper, Yachtmaster and Open Ocean Navigation courses are next on the list to further increase our qualification level.
At the helm
And most recently, we turned our hand to surfing. After landing in the sleepy beach town of Huanchaco, we decided to give surfing a go. Now this is something I’ve been wanting to try ever since we set foot in Australia 3 years ago. Surf has been following us around the world, and for some reason or another, I’ve always missed out on the opportunity to get on the water and learn. But no more! After doing the research, we were out on the boards the very next day. And then the next. And even as I sit in a hammock overlooking the sea writing this, I’m extremely tempted to run down to the surf school and rent the gear for another day.
Getting ready to go pro
Chuck in to the mix the various other dabblings, such as knee-boarding and water skiing in a water park in Singapore, kite-boarding on Barry Island beach, and the general hysteria induced by the word ‘Splashdown’ (it’s a water park in Poole, UK, that consists solely of flumes and slides), and you’ve got yourself a fully-fledged water baby.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have equal love for the other 29% of the planet not covered in brine. A trek to Machu Picchu in a few weeks isn’t lessened by the lack of liquid, and some lessons in salsa aren’t subject to a scuba cylinder. I still go crazy over the idea of a casual stroll up a ‘hill’ in Boulder and a ramble on Dartmoor is a great way to spend an afternoon, as is hacking your way up a glacier at the end of the Earth (can’t wait!). It’s just that the sea has a special place in my heart. It always will. And given the choice, I will almost always run to the water.
It would be ideal if, when we get to New Zealand at the end of the year, there would be some work in one or all of these fields. On, in or under the water would suit me just fine. But even if there isn’t any work, somewhere I can carry out my water-based hobbies would be a happy compromise. But we’ll have to see what happens on that front.
Wherever the next few years take us, one thing’s for certain: If I can have the ocean as my office, I’ll be a happy man.
Has the sea or anything else changed your life? Maybe you’ve got an experience that made you think differently about the world around you, or perhaps you’re a natural born water baby too. What are your favourite water or land-based activities?
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You ought to write more, Alan, you do it so very well! It would have been lovely to have you both with us as we toiled up Snowdon yesterday but I hope you all enjoy your trek to Machu Picchu.
Great post, there are so many fun things you can do in water. This year I rediscovered my love for scuba diving, I learned to surf (sort of) and I did white water rafting in the moon light (well the moon was hiding behind clouds). So water-wise, so far this has been a good year for me. Sailing is still the one thing I need to try.
Jarmo\’s last post…A Cautionary Tale: How 6h Bus Ride Can Take 30h in Laos
I loved this post! It resonated with me deeply. I feel the EXACT same way about the water!
Andi of My Beautiful Adventures\’s last post…My Wedding & Honeymoon: Day 6-10 (Part 10)
Oh man we relate so much with this post. We spent 10 months living in Jasper in Canada and it was the furtherest I have ever been from the ocean. Considering I grew up and in water I hate not being around it. I really miss surfing now we are living in the UK (sure I could go out but its freaking ridiculously cold!)
Make sure you end up in Mount Maunganui and up the Coromandel Peninsula if you travel around the North Island of NZ (its our old stomping ground and the most beautiful area in NZ, might be a little biased).
Cole and Adela (FourJandals)\’s last post…Hump Day Wednesday – 05/10/2011
HI guys, glad this post struck a chord with you. I really hope wherever we find ourselves in the future we have the opportunity to live close to the sea!