I Want to Be One of Those Guys
This is a story relayed to our team at Aussie Divers Phuket when a couple of customers were completing their PADI Advanced Open Water here in Phuket Thailand.
‘I want to be one of those guys’, is about the video that inspired two snorkelers to learn to dive and become PADI Open Water scuba divers.
The Journey
Jasmine and Andre embarked on a much-anticipated getaway to the Maldives, eager to escape the European winter for sunnier climes.
Arriving at their opulent resort, they indulged in days of poolside relaxation, soaking up the tropical warmth to achieve the perfect tan.
Feeling refreshed, they decided to explore the resort’s activities and were recommended a snorkelling expedition to witness the majestic manta rays that frequented the area. With little knowledge of these creatures, Jasmine and Andre were thrilled at the opportunity.
I want to be those guys
The Snorkeling Day
Setting out at 8:00 am after breakfast, they eagerly boarded a boat bound for the snorkelling site. Upon arrival, Jasmine and Andre plunged into the crystal-clear waters of the Maldives. Moments later, they were greeted by the sight of a magnificent manta ray gracefully gliding beneath them, a mere 15 meters away. It was a breathtaking sight, captured by Andre’s GoPro.
As they marvelled at the manta rays, they also noticed bubbles rising from below. Intrigued, they realized that scuba divers were enjoying an even closer encounter with the rays. It appeared from the surface that they could almost touch them.
Impressed by the divers’ proximity to the creatures, Andre expressed his desire to join their ranks. Andre turned to Jasmine and said “Hey, I want to be one of those guys”, “I want to be closer to the manta rays”.
Jasmine and Andre snorkelled with the mantas for another hour before boarding the boat back to the resort. Both knew what their next resort activity was going to be…
A New Beginning
Upon returning, they immediately sought information from the tour desk about learning to scuba dive. Learning about the PADI Open Water Course and the resort’s PADI 5 Star Dive Centre, they eagerly signed up. Jamie, a PADI Master Instructor, would be their instructor and mentor for the next three days.
Both raced back to their room to eagerly go through their eLearning. Once they completed their pre-study they were more keen than ever. The following day they entered the shallow waters of their resort and practiced the 34 required skills for the PADI Confined Water session.
Over the next two days, they explored four different dive sites, encountering an array of marine life, including turtles, reef sharks, octopuses, and barracudas.
One of Those Guys
On the final day of their trip, they booked a dive to the manta site. What they experienced will live in the memory for the rest of their lives and best of all, they became one of those guys…
This story was relayed to Aussie Divers Phuket when Jasmine and Andre completed their PADI Advanced Open Water Course with Aussie Divers Phuket, Thailand.
