“Yes, I live it. The sea is everything. It covers seven-tenths of the terrestrial globe. Its breath is pure and healthy. It is an immense desert where man is never alone, for he feels life quivering around him on every side. There is supreme tranquility. The sea does not belong to despots. On its surface, iniquitous rights can still be exercised, and men can fight there, devour each other there, and transport all terrestrial horrors there. But at thirty feet below its level, their power ceases. Their influence dies out, their might disappears.“
Jules Verne – 20000 Leagues Under The Sea

Taken at Kontiki Dive Resort – Lapu-lapu, Philippines

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I can say I am lucky to be living in a city where the beach is just a ride away. Whenever I have time, my cousin and I would prep our snorkeling gears and hit the road. I never get tired of doing it, in fact I am always excited… ALWAYS!!! The beach – or the sea in general – gives me a kind of energy that I can’t explain. There are no boring moments at the beach!

© The Bucket List

I know exactly why I love free diving; for one, it gives me a satisfying feeling – of knowing that I am conserving every bit of oxygen in my system just to stay underwater for as long as I could. I can barely stay longer, but with a couple more tries, I know I’ll get there soon. Second, is the knowledge of being one with the sea. I am all alone, I can relax my mind, and focus on what is in front of me – the water world. Third, it gives me the opportunity to explore what is beneath the clear blue water. I get to discover the beauty of God’s creation. Fourth, is the thrill – of not knowing what sea creature I will encounter next. May it be an ordinary fish, a clown, or even a lionfish. If you’re lucky enough, you may get to see sea turtles. That is actually one of the main reasons why I love free diving so much. The sea offers a lot of surprising things, things I never thought I’d be able to see. It is full of endless possibilities.

At the end of every beach day, I would look back at the day’s activities and admire myself! God! I’m that brave. FYI, I don’t swim that well; in fact, I really don’t know how to swim. If not for the fins, I would never dare to go 7ft – 8ft deep into the water. But see, I’ve conquered my fear over and over again. That’s how big a risk I take every time I free dive. But with the right companion and a bucket full of determination, everything is possible. You just have to have faith in yourself. We can all conquer our fears!

During our free dive at Kontiki Dive Resort, while we were practicing how to expand our lungs to conserve oxygen and prolong our stay underwater, a group of people were doing their recreational dive in the background.

Me and my cousin together with our master diver friend Arief (hehehe) ©Breniel Remoroza