Luckily I didn’t have to go first. Watching nervously as the first victim slid into the large hole in the middle of the boat, I wished I was my friend Becca, who being the sensible one, had decided that being weighed down underwater with just a plastic bubble over her head was going to be too much of a claustrophobic experience. Rather than feeling left out however, she sat happily snapping pictures of us as we prepared for our descent.
As the eager Mauritian guide attached a metal weighted belt around my waist, I asked what would happen if I were to fall over. I was told that water would slowly begin to fill up in my helmet – not the response I was looking for! However, he assured me that it was extremely difficult to fall over and that I shouldn’t worry about it. I was anxious about the helmet feeling hot and claustrophobic, but in fact it was very spacious and airy inside, and had good visibility.
I was next to descend into the opening in the boat, and so I proceeded to climb down two rungs of a large iron ladder, so that all of my body up to my shoulders was immersed. The weighty helmet was then placed over my head and I was told to descend slowly and stand on the sea bed. Although you might assume that during “undersea walking” you go miles down under the sea, the truth is you don’t – you’re only about five metres down and can still see the surface. Note also that it is not a requirement for participants to be able to swim, as two of the members of our party couldn’t, yet were still able to share the experience. An undersea walk, I found, is suitable for virtually everyone, young and old, able bodied and disabled. This even applies to people who wear glasses/contact lenses. My mother is a perfect example i.e. she is a non swimmer, a contact lens wearer and constantly worries about getting her hair wet, yet still found the experience incredible. However, children are required to be seven years old, due to the size and weight of the helmets.
Reaching the bottom of the ladder, I felt strangely light on my feet, despite the metal belt around my waist. Walking and turning seemed to take twice as long as normal; it was as if everything was in “slow motion.” My previous fears of falling over were gone – it took me about ten seconds just to put one foot in front of another! The clearness of the sea was astonishing, it was easy to see all around the area and witness the amazing bright colouring of the coral and the magnificent marine life.
There were six other “undersea walkers” around me, as you have to go down in fives, along with two guides who stay with you in case you encounter any problems. This takes away any factor of fear – not once did I feel in any danger. Although a time spent underwater of thirty minutes seems frighteningly long to be breathing air through a tube, the session seems to pass by extremely quickly. The half an hour consists not just of walking around admiring the beautiful Mauritian undersea wildlife, but also of feeding the tropical fish. I found this extremely enjoyable, although others who don’t particularly like contact with fish may find it a little overwhelming. Bread was pushed into my hands by the guides, and I was immediately surrounded by shimmering shoals of fish trying to grab it from my hands. However, the fish don’t bite, they are completely harmless. The guides are very good at making the walk a very “hands on” experience - during our walk we were introduced to various remarkable fish, many of which we could actually hold. However, make sure that you find out what fish you are going to see before going on the walk, as I was amazed at the sheer varieties under the sea, but had no idea what most of them were. Also, for those of you who are anxious about encountering slightly more dangerous wildlife such as sharks, do not fear. Sharks, we were told, never venture where we were located, as we were too close to the shore.
For any young “Finding Nemo” fans, there is also the opportunity to hold a “sea cucumber,” a weird-looking creature which feels slimy and slightly “squidgy”. Sadly, there weren’t any clown fish when I did my walk (the breed of famous animated character “Nemo”), however any children taking part will no doubt be amazed at the bright colours of the other species they will witness, some of which have appeared in other aquatic successes such as “Shark Tale” and “SpongeBob SquarePants.”
After my half an hour was up, I was tapped on the shoulder by one of our guides, and slowly re-climbed the ladder to air and sunlight. My helmet was taken off as soon as my shoulders emerged, as out of water the weight of it was extremely heavy. I was soon joined by the rest of the group, who had all found it an extremely enjoyable and breath taking experience. It was certainly a lot different to anything I had ever experienced before.
Aspiring divers should be aware that an undersea walk may be a good precursor to their first dive. Although they would not experience the same breathing equipment as used in diving, the encounter would help in acquiring a general feel for the sensation of being underwater, as well as giving them an idea of how to control the pressure felt in their ears. For those uncertain about whether an expensive three day diving course is for them, this is the perfect opportunity to sample life underwater.
Once back on dry land, we were able to view the photos and videos the guides had taken of us. If you are able to do so, I thoroughly recommend buying these as souvenirs to take home with you, as for just £15 you get a CD with all of them included. And let’s face it – who’s going to believe you’ve been walking around on the sea bed in your bikini for half an hour without the evidence to prove it?
“Aquaventure Under Sea Walk” (www.aquaventure-mu.com) can be found at the “Coco Beach Hotel” in “Belle Mare,” Mauritius. It is open throughout the year and costs £30 per person. See website for further information.
