The Thrill of Black Water Diving

Black water diving is an adventure. It is enjoyed by those of us who love the sport of diving and the quest of finding underwater fossils and historic artifacts.

Yesterday I experienced my second round of black water diving along the banks of the Cooper River in a section called the French Quarter. Each of the three times I entered the brackish water, I found myself immediately immersed in varying degrees of wet, liquid darkness. And just in case you're wondering, unlike the blue water diving I'm accustomed to - or you may have seen in PBS specials - , there really is no visibility.

My two flashlights emit only small beams of light as I crawl on my belly along the bottom in search of hidden treasures. And as the current moves the water, I'm sometimes surprised by small glints of sunlight that permeate the murkiness.

I must say that I wouldn't recommend this to anyone who is the slight bit claustrophobic or fearful of what lies below. In addition to the darkness, there is plenty of mud and critters that crawl along the bottom. Yesterday I unearthed some baby flounder and crab that surprised me when they moved as my light passed over them.

Many people I've shared this adventure with are amazed that I would even want to participate in such an activity. And I must admit, I wasn't sure whether I'd enjoy it my first time; but I was willing to give it a try. And I quickly discovered that black water diving is pretty cut and dry - either you like it or you don't. And if you haven't guessed it by now - I like it, a lot!

Personally, I find the watery, darkness to be soothing and comforting. Of course, let's not forget that I'm not down there alone. I enter the waters with my dive buddy/love, Lee, who has dove the river 100s of times. And, most importantly, he is always eight feet or less away from me because we're tethered together by a bungee cord.

So, where is the thrill in all this, you might ask. For me it's in so many things, from enjoying the beauty of nature on the boat ride, to diving to find treasure. But most importantly, the thrill is in discovering artifacts that are millions of years old. Ahhhh, but that is another post in my blog, yet to be written. Stay tuned for more reef rants...