Scuba Dive and Dolphin Safari with Positive7.
Since long I wanted to try Scuba diving but was never much on my priority list as I am a mountain person.. always loved going for treks and loved connecting with almighty God and feeling his ANUBHUTI by standing on highest peaks with deep down valley, hearing the breeze sound passing through me or flowers and plants dancing around me. There are many such connecting God moments I have felt and have given me inner peace of mind and soul after my each trip.
Meghna, one of the partner at Positive 7 forwarded me one message for Scuba Diving at Dwarka. Subconsiiously started thinking about it and finally with three other friends, Meetaben, Ritu and Jyoti joined with extended group of total 16 out of which Sunil sir and Sharif sir were two main teammates cum partners,who accompanied us to take our care and guide us in this exciting tour to Dwarka- Shivranjpur Beach for Scuba Diving.
All were excited as this was an absolutely new world to explore. I had done snorkeling at Andaman Nicobar Island but Scuba was my first try. Basically I love water and could never resist myself from entering it whenever I see water..in any form.. sea, river, swimming pool or even when it rains, I just enjoy getting wet. So this was a perfect choice of activity for me.
12.02.21- Friday
10:15 pm was our reporting time at Sarthi Hotel. We started our trip at around 10:30 pm. It was night journey and we four settled ourselves at the backseat, chatting and listening to music, I could feel the air of excitement in the bus. We took break twice at around midnight for tea and that’s the best I enjoyed – we never drink tea at 2:30 am in our routine life..so going out of the box.
13.02.21- Saturday
By the time it was time for sunrise, the bus suddenly started going slower and slower. Looking out we realized it was completely foggy and visibility on the road was zero. After waiting for half hour, having another cup of tea, we started continuing our journey…looking around was like a dream world, as if we were going through clouds…felt like in Mt.Abu and we all laughed out loudly…paise vasul..morning in Abu and rest of the trip in Dwarka…two trips in one go.
After reaching Dwarka, we had our breakfast in a South Indian restaurant and got our self checked-in in Hotel Lemon Tree and few at Hotel Fern. We were asked to report in half hour for our Scuba dive and were asked to wear tshirts and tights. All got ready excitedly and were ready to go.
All the arrangements were done very appropriately without wasting a single moment. As we reached the beach, we were introduced to Positive7 Instructor and Guide Kirit sir.
His personality with perfect physic was eye catching. We were in safe hands. We were divided into two teams.. I was in the first batch. After changing and wearing scuba suit, excitement levels doubled up before even entering the water. Giving and explaining about Scuba suits and specially explaining other precautions, our team, Kiritsir and his assistance, Krishna headed to deep waters in a small boat.
After reaching in the middle of deep eater…again he explained about breathing pattern…which is most important in Scuba. He also explained how to use snorkeling pipe and wearing tempered glasses. Each participant was tied with 6 kg weight belt at the belt, then was asked to come and enter water. There was a platform attached to the boat and were asked to first stand on the platform. There was oxygen cylinder tied up on the back. My turn came after the 5th participant and I stood on the platform and he checked my breathing pattern as to whether I was doing it right. After one or two try, he held my hand and we started our dive. First one to two minutes I concentrated only on mybreathing which was ruling my mind.
I gently got a tap on my shoulder and a hand guiding me in sign language to look around. I looked around and saw there were so many golden and transparent and few colorful fishes of different sizes swimming around me. Now I automatically got connected to the sea world around me. Again he taped on my shoulder and asked me to look down, there were corals all around. He made me push more towards depth and made me walk on sea weeds. He gave me a go pro to record around. I took it in my hand and first recorded myself and then the world around me…underwater…deep in the sea.
At that moment I could only hear the sea sound, the sound of bubbles and my slow breathing…inhale…exhale…very slow but rhythmic. Now I could feel myself connecting to the sea world…creation by Almighty God, those were again ANUBHUTI of God’s presence. I was feeling most peaceful within. As air pressure increased, there was discomfort in my ears. Kirit sir took me around and then took me towards the boat.
I touched the platform and came out of water and took breathe of air…that was a totally different feeling within of able to achieve something. I never came here with any expectations to feel the presence of God at the bottom of the sea and was most happy to find him here. Now level of excitement had crossed its bar. We all completed and came to the shore and the second batch attempted and came back.
Kiritsir and Krishna is perfect team to go for Scuba. He saw to it that we all had great experience and encouraged each one of us to do it. Sunil sir accompanied both the groups deep in the sea for Scuba and Sharif sir took backstage duty, taking care of participants at the beach and arranging super Kathiawadi food on the beach.
Reached hotel, took bath and me and Meetaben went to Dwarka temple which was walking distance from Hotel. We engaged one Pandit and he took us around the temple. There were 16 more temples inside the main temple. He told us stories of all 16 temples…each Idol’s connection and importance in Lord Krishna’s life. Felt so amazing and fascinated, as if entering that era, how live this place must have been. After doing 7:30 pm aarti and darshan, took dinner…totally exhausted and went to sleep. Goodnight.
14.02.21 Sunday
By 5:30 am, Meetaben and I were ready to visit the temple for Mangla darshan. Totally feeling fresh, we both did darshan for 2-3 times as if feeling God in my eyes and soul. Both Lalaji’s idol from temple shop and came back more excitedly.
After having breakfast we left for Okha Port for another exciting activity, Dolphin watch. As pre arranged, our private boat was ready. Without wasting a single moment, we all settled for look out for Dolphin. There were sea guls all around us as we fed them mamra and biscuits. Enjoyed seeing them flying around us. All were enjoying loud typical Saurashtra music and suddenly the boat man spotted Dolphins.
We were most lucky to see them so early and in a short time without waiting much for them. And then many more of them surfaced and they all came out swiftly and smoothly, took summersaults. This was also such a lucky moment for us. There smooth sailing connected me to inner peacefulness within me. One of the Dolphin came near our boat and we all were totally excited.
All of us took pictures and enjoyed the vastness of the sea. One more big tick from things to do list. Boat waited at Bet Dwarka, went for Darshan. Lord Krishna ruled at Dwarka but lived in Bet Dwarka. Both the temples are mesmerizing places. Sunil sir and Sharif sir had arranged for lunch on the boat and we all enjoyed lunch in the middle of the sea. Totally different experience for all of us and all were overly happy.
On the way back we also visited Nageshwar temple, one of the nine Jyotilings of Lord Shiva, which is a very auspicious place.
As it was time to return home, we all were most comfortable with each other, there was atmosphere of feeling like family bonding. Inspite of all being from different backgrounds, here was a bunch of people with the same interest…enjoying amazing nature…bonded with one bond.
Bus driver- Most gratitude to Rameshbhai who drove us safe and sound without any attitude.
For Positive 7- This is no fake reporting, but from bottom of our heart…you took our great care…our safety was on your first priority list-
Providing proper comfort at every point where ever needed was highly appreciated
Looking forward to mark few of my bucklist places with Positive 7.
Thank you for everything, my most happy, safe memory of scuba dive at Shivrajpur with Positive7