On the Theraputic Effects of Diving

The gale struck at 3:00 pm on our fifth and last day of diving in Thailand. Our small wooden boat was somewhere between two islands, and hours from shore. Not that we could see dry land, with visibility about 200 meters through the driving rain. The eastern monsoon had struck in force, surprising us all on a day that had begun sunny and calm. But there we were, tossed about in 10 foot waves, with 50 knot gusts threatening to turn our day of diving into our last.  As we sat on the top deck getting soaked and cold (better than the cabin, though, should we capsize), we remained oddly zen, perhaps taking comfort knowing that we were in it together.

The storm let up, but only after we made it back to port. A few cocktails later and the worst was forgotten. And what the storm couldn't alter was the hours we had spent together underwater, looking at fish and coral and other wonders and trusting each other in silence. 

Diving, we have decided, is great for relationships. Not only is it a fun shared experience, but while underwater you depend on your diving buddy to watch your back and to be there if something goes wrong. From the pre-dive equipment checks to hand signals during the dive, the level of trust is high. And you spend a lot of time together in silence, underwater, learning to communicate with simple gestures and to read your partner's body language.

Diving is also a good metaphor for successful marriage: diving rewards a slow-and-steady pace. Divers who rush about in all directions simply use up their air and scare the fish. Those who can relax, take their time, and sort out problems calmly fare much better.  And in addition to all that, dodgy boat trips make you realize how much you care for one another.

We recently spent a week in the fishing town of Chaloklum, on the Thai island of Koh Phangan. In addition to good diving (10 dives over five days, including an advanced diving course for Erin and an awesome sunset dive), we enjoyed the rhythm of small town island life. The locals seemed happy, the seafood curry was great (and cheap), and the ex-pat diving community was simultaneously amusing and fun. Here's a link to our photo gallery: https://plus.google.com/photos/103829313469224560701/albums/6053723493003017633

After 11 days of enjoying island life, we've spent the past three days exploring the urban chaos of Bangkok. More to come on that, but here's a glimpse:

Tonight we fly to Mongolia, where we'll find out if five days of horseback riding is as good for relationships as scuba diving.