Rapture of the Deep - Deep Dive

Jim Abernethy, Andy Sallmon and I double check our equipment in preparation for this very unique dive. One by one we splash into the tropical warm water — the epitome of diving in the Bahamas. As the bubbles clear I can see the reef approximately 80 feet below. Further along the reef the blue topaz-colored water gradually fades to a dark navy blue as the reef suddenly plummets down to over one thousand feet.

We slowly begin our descent down this living wall. Passing the other divers who curiously swim around the top ledge of this wall we continue our descent further down. The digits on my dive computer continue to slowly increase. 120 feet. 150 feet. I stop for a moment! A feeling of euphoria and numbness seems to have instantly commanded my state of mind. Puzzled by this odd feeling, I take a moment to compose myself and double check my equipment. Everything checks out okay. Suddenly it all makes sense for I have read about this before and for the first time ever I'm experiencing what many advanced divers eloquently call 'Rapture of the Deep.' Scientifically, because of the high volume of nitrogen (79%) in my air mixture and Dalton 's Law of partial pressure, this high nitrogen concentration impairs the conduction of nerve impulses - mimicking the effects of being intoxicated.

Jimmy, Andy, and I continue our descent further down the wall. By now most of the colors of the spectrum, except blue, have been absorbed by the water above me. What colors I perceive are nothing more than a chromatic adaptation of the mind. Still I continue to descend.. Just a few feet below me Jimmy and Andy have finally come to a stop at 197 feet. Staring at the wall, Jimmy's 300 watt video lights come on. Like some kind of hallucinogenic drug, a rainbow of colors explodes in front of me.

In the center of this menagerie lies a foot tall, soft coral whose rare glimpse enticed us to dive to this depth.

With only a few minutes of bottom time, I begin my slow ascent to the surface. Pausing for a few minutes at every safety stop to avoid decompression sickness, my state of mind drifts as the dark blue abyss seems to beckon me. Luckily, my state of mind and personal safety opt not to fall entranced by these Sirens songs.

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