Man ... when I saw the title of the thread, I thought I'd set myself for some seriously humorous flaming, and maybe even some physical beatings, by suggesting (IN JEST LADIES), "I like diving on reefs because the recreational diver girls are far prettier than the technical diver girls." But, after reading the seriousness of the issue, some responses, and checking out Bill's site on devotional scuba diving ministry and outreach, I'm kind of sobered into answering seriously ...
I recently had eye surgery to remove vitreous floaters. I've had eye floaters since I was a teenager, like many people who see them when looking at certain surfaces in certain lighting conditions. But, months ago, I developed a cluster of dark floaters that would move into and blur or obscure the central vision in my left eye. Most doctors tell you that you have to live with them and nothing can be done, but I did some research and found an excellent surgeon who was williing to perform a vitrectomy to remove them and replace the debris-filled gel with saline. I'm posting this part in case any ScubaBoard member suffers the same thing to put out the word that help is available.
Going through this made me realize all the little things that we take for granted. A huge part of diving for me, and for most of us, is the gift of sight and being able to see the beauty and mystery of the world's marine and aquatic realms. Lots of people were praying for me because the surgery has certain risks and when I get back in the water I'll be even more exceptionally thankful to God than I am already. I've been cleared to dive and I'm getting ready to start teaching courses again. I promised my girlfriend to wait for her to get back from a business trip to dive with her the first time back since she's missed me underwater. Sheand I are planning to go to Bermuda in October and then cave diving in northen Florida and to the Florida Keys afterward.
One of my last reef dives for fun, my Green Force light kept dying and I spent the entire dive monkeying with it trying to figure out if it was a cord issue or something else. My girlfriend saw lots of creatures that really got her excited. She's worked in the islands as a DM and grew up on boats. We're both instructors so whatever she saw must have been impressive! I just saw my light fire ... burn ... die. Wait for it to be safe to switch it on again. Fire ... burn ... die. Missed a lot.
I realize that diving still appeals to the child in me. I grew up snorkeling, anxiously waiting for the day I could really scuba dive. Learning that in murky laker, I couldn't wait to dive in clear water like in The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau, Sea Hunt or Flipper. Having started scuba diving at age 13, I'm still passionate about it at 41. I love diving. I love teaching it because I love it so much. It doesn't matter if it is in the pool, in the clear sea, in a low-vis river or in a cave. Every place has great diving - just different.
For me, coral reefs are a place to relax, to just appreciate nature and make childhood dreams come true. The healthier the environment, the more stimulating and rewarding it is for the soul. It's where I can free myself of deco schedules, goals, career, stress, message boards, politics, competition ... and just float motionless and let the environment steal the show. What a show it is in all its breath-taking splendor!
Ultimately, having had this sport and the underwater world occuy so much of my life, a coral reef is where I can go to feel safe, to feel the sensation of warm water, pressure and the gentle caress of bubbles alongside my face; it's where I can feel the weightlessness that is home, hear the crackling, songs and voices of its inhabitants, and feel most like myself in my element and where I can worship God in the Church of the Blue Water.