BY MLive.com

Though I have been intensely studying the Pacific since arriving in the country, the ocean still holds an air of mystery and unease for me. Quite honestly, it scares me...which both attracts and detracts me to it.

I am one who feels much more comfortable bungee jumping off a bridge or climbing a mountain than I do snorkeling. So in order to defy myself and my fear, I decided to attain my SCUBA certification, both Open Water and Advanced. As of yesterday, I can proudly say that I am an official Advanced SCUBA diver.

After completing classroom training, our first few dives took place on the coast of Ecuador in Puerto Lopez. My nerves were on fire as I struggled getting into the strangulating wet suit. I even started feeling regretful as I then donned a 30lb. weight belt, my BCD and tank, my mask, booties and flippers. I sat on the edge of the boat, barely able to breathe with my heavy gear coupled with my fear.

by Clarity Guerra

Umbrella of fish at Leon Dormido.

As the only non-marine biologist in our marine biology program, I had to hide any reservations I felt, as they were all in there element...many of them seem to have been born in the water. So I took one breath and let myself fall backwards into the cold, dark waters.

Freezing water rushes into my suit. My jaw clenches the regulator, sucking air into my hungry lungs. I taste salt water; feel it sting my eyes. The huge weight of my tank and gear is conspicuous and foreign on my back. And I'm still alive. I force my breathing to slow down and my muscles to relax. As we descend, sounds of the real world, the world I've thus far lived my entire life, disappears to be replaced by the sounds of mechanical breathing and bubbles. And I am surprised that within a few minutes, I discover that by controlling my fear, I am calmer and feel completely in control of my personal surrounding.

by Clarity Guerra

Eagle ray flying through the waters by Kicker Rock.

by Clarity Guerra

Marine ecology dive for shark census.The discoveries I made throughout my 14 dives over the semester were amazing. Personal discoveries were incredible. I felt an unexpected peace and comfort in the water. I had to overcome my unease each and ever time is jumped into that water, but I did it. Natural discoveries were even more unbelievable; beauty was found in each crevasse, under each rock, after each kick cycle. On the coast we stumbled upon a four foot flounder that lazily looked up at the 10 of us as we observed. We heard whales singing as they made their temporary visit to the Ecuadorian coastal area. Diving here in Galapagos, one of the best diving regions in the world, brought an entirely different scenery. The degree of wildlife we've been able to see has been so diverse and expansive: sharks, tunicates, sea turtles, corals, sea stars, octopi, stingrays, manta rays, moray eels, tunas, and an endless array of fish species. A night dive brought a new thrill to the activity. We saw sleeping fish (and acc

identally woke up a couple of angry sea lions) and lobster and sea hares (HUGE foot-long slugs). We turned off our flashlights and sifted our hands gently through the water medium. Bioluminescent shows itself as sparks seemingly lighting all around your every motion. It is like being suddenly gifted with a magic touch...underwater. Deeps dives and a wreck dive brought in even more elements. For Marine Ecology class, we did diversity counts and a shark census. The currents were incredibly strong, so we gave up fighting the opposition of flow and held onto rocks at the bottom of the Leon Dormido pass. Galapagos sharks dominate the area above your head and the sun filtering in from above gives them a silhouetted look.

And so the dive is complete and we ascend towards the sunlight up above.

Warm light hits my head the minute I break the surface and fresh air is boundlessly available all around me. As I pull off my gear and slide back into the boat, I observe my fellow divers all around me excitedly exchange the highlights of the adventure. I smile and relish in the moment for a few seconds....and then join eagerly into the enthusiasm.

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