A Leap Into The Unknown By: Jack R. Rhawn

by Jack Rhawn (United States of America)

A leap into the unknown Belize

A Leap Into The Unknown By: Jack R. Rhawn The world is indeed an interesting and exotic place. From freezing glaciers the size of small countries, splashing with a thunderous roar, breaking free of its mass, thousands of years old, to the tropical flora and fauna, which overwhelms the senses, while trekking through the Guatemalan jungle, climbing the pyramids of Tikal. Or exploring the steep and misty coffee plantations of the Panamanian highlands, the world is indeed, an interesting and and exotic place. But it is said that 2/3rds of the the planet is underwater, leaving the mind to wonder as to what exists below and one can only begin to imagine what lies under the surface of what we typically know. My 4 days underwater, while taking the PADI certification course, proved to be one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had in my lifetime, and Caye Caulker, Belize, would be my entry point into my own personal leap into the unknown. Instruction began at 8:00 a.m., at the world famous Frenchie's Diving Academy, located on Caye Caulker, Belize. Frenchie's Academy was founded in 1981, and boasts some of the best underwater instruction there is. I knew upon signing up for my 4 day course, that I was in for a unique adventure. Our instructor Mr. Able Navarro warmly greeted our small class of intense onlookers, then shortly thereafter, began to explain to us all, that he had just had the pleasure of filming the underwater caverns, while diving for the Discovery Channels production of Extreme Earth, Underwater Cave Systems. The thought of this person being our guide over the next coming days, felt to me like a true blessing, while having such an experienced instructor, guide us through our upcoming journey, as we prepared to enter a vast world of the unknown. For the first time in our lives, while exploring such places so familiar in theory, yet so foreign in practice, not to just us in the class, but to roughly 96% of the worlds entire population we later learned, this was certainly to be an experienced of a lifetime. As the days advanced in training and instruction, the proper usage of all diving equipment and safety was taught every step of the way. Our instructor ensured that we all comfortably performed, examined, and then passed all required qualifications, while learning in the exact environment, that we were so eager to explore. In the process of learning, our class would continuously venture below, and the shear rush of discovering a whole new world was beyond epic, each and every time I hit the water to witness things that I've only been able to see previously, as an onlooker via digital mediums. My new world was filled with amazing and awesome live networks of gigantic brain corrals, hidden moray eals, nearly hidden to the naked eye. Lurking nurse sharks keeping pace with us, as we swam above them in their own environment, giving me the feeling of the most interactive experience I've yet to have had, in my entire life. The colossal manatees floating near the surface off in the distance, the gigantic loggerhead turtles, who's imposing size makes one almost think twice, before realizing there overall mild mannered temperament, in nature. Then the grand finale of it all, on our final day of instruction, I spotted a rare and graceful spotted eagle ray, that swam directly below me for a consistent 100 meters at a depth of 20 meters, which felt at the time, like an eternity in the making. My experience diving for my 4 days spend underwater was breathtaking and truly a turning point in my life, that also showed me our world from an entirely different perspective. I learned that week in Caye Calker, Belize, that my world had grown by 2/3rds indeed, and I had certainly taken what I consider a true leap into the unknown. I highly encourage others to take the same leap as I myself did during that journey, and have a lifetime changing experience as I did that wonderful week in Belize.