****
Prof. Fukuda together with the other sailors was already preparing the equipment for the dive. It was supposed to be a 2-hour dive, on the nearby reefs, with a 15-minute interval between them. During the dive, we should conduct our observations of marine life, but primarily search and install the sensor Ricardo made for Prof. Fukuda's project. We proceeded to the far end of the deck and wore the neoprene clothes that were already separated for us. All that was left was to gear up and dive in.
It was still pretty hot, and I still felt my head heavy from the intense heat that day. Wearing dark and tight rubber clothes didn't help at all, worsening my discomfort.
Damn it's hot. Should I just skip the dive? No, I don't think so. Everybody was looking forward to this day, including me, and it would be a huge bummer if I wasn't there with them. Besides, the water is cold so it should only help my situation. Yeah! I'm gonna go in.
Each one of us received a sonar sensor to install underwater. The sensor was almost as large as a football, but not very heavy. It also had a hook and a rope that we were supposed to fix in whatever rocky surface we found underwater.
"Well, guys" - Pr. Fukuda introduced - "For the dive you will be in pairs; Maria, you go with Ricardo and Oliver shall go with Miyuki.
"Okay"- We responded together
"One should look for the other during the dive. Please, search first for a suitable place for the placement of the sensor, and then you are free to enjoy the reefs the way you see fit. The waters nearby are very shallow, mostly 5 meters, but don't stray too far away from the boat."
Wearing the scuba tank definitely felt heavier than in previous dives, but that may be just because I got unaccustomed to wearing scuba diving gear…. Right?
Maria entered first in the water, followed by Ricardo, Oliver and finally me. As my back hit the water and I started to gain depth, the coral reefs became even more nitid. Extremely colorful and diverse, the reefs were home to many species of fish that moved in shoals and made it a very entertaining sight to see, which was next to perfect if it wasn't for the traces of human trash found down there. It wasn't my first-time diving, but I never got tired of the beauty of the almost untouched nature in its prime. Ingenuity is a characteristic that we as humans value just too much; when we see a smiling baby or child, a puppy, the birds flying around, or those fish minding their business, we immediately get emotionally attached to it, as it generates a will of protection. For that reason, it's just so sad to see that, even on an inhabited small island I could still see some traces of human pollution, like small plastic bags or metal cans now and then.
Oliver was well aware of that reality, and along with the sensor he brought a bag to collect human trash that he eventually found during the dive. He also led the way most of the time as he seemed more comfortable than me down there and thus passed a lot of trust. Oliver would tell me afterwards that he would always bring in that bag for collecting trash whenever he dived. I decided to help him out on the endeavor, making an "ok" sign approving of his attitude and began picking up any trash that I'd eventually find out on the way. It was also an excellent way of searching for a spot to fix the sensor, since most of the plastic bags got stuck under a rock or reef formation, which would be great for fixing the sensor hook.
I know we are not that distant from the shore, but I wasn't expecting to see that amount of plastic. In some spots you'd say that there was a full party if it wasn't for the fact that we are undersea. I guess we have indeed a destructive nature, unfortunately.
Well, I better find a place to fix this sensor, we are getting a bit distant from the boat and I have only 15 minutes left of oxygen. Maybe those rocks behind the reefs are going to do the job. I better warn Oliver that….
…..Uh?
Wait.
Where is Oliver?
Moving my head around I just couldn't find Oliver, and although it was a bright sunny day, the visibility inside the water wasn't that good, as it was a denser and heavier water than the ones like in the Caribbean Sea. We probably got separated and didn't realize we were getting far from each other. That wasn't good; it is not recommended to scuba dive alone, especially in low oxygen situations. I needed to ascend.
Being in the midst of a rock formation I decided to fix the sensor's hook in one of them and get back to the boat as soon as possible. If the sensor position wasn't ideal, I would just come back and change it afterwards. Right then my only worry was to get back to the boat and find Oliver.
Okay, I think the sensor is all set. Just gonna press the button for it to turn on and start transmitting...
…...and there we go. This blinking light must mean it is all set, time to go up.
But...
Uh?
I felt something pulling my left leg as I tried to ascend. Looking down, I could see my left foot and the whole flipper stuck below the rock where I installed the sensor.
You are joking, right?
I don't know if it was the rock that slightly moved or if I simply have put my foot under a tight space where now removing it was difficult. Thing is, even with shaking my leg vigorously, the rock didn't budge, and my foot was completely stuck below it. Pushing the boulder as hard as I could, I noticed I was able to move it just a bit, but still not enough for me to get my foot off under the boulder.
Time was ticking down, and the pressure gauge registered less than 7 minutes of available oxygen. Air was getting low, and my previous dizziness from the heat came back really hard. I wasn't feeling well since the start of the day, and with air concentration beginning to get just under the recommended level, it sure didn't help any further.
This was a grim situation.
Despair and anxiety took over my body, and for the first time, I feared for my life. I wanted to shout and scream for help, but under that blue hell, how could I? My voice was already silenced by the depths of the water….
One last time I tried to push the boulder, with all my strength. But for no success. Being already sick, the lack of oxygen made me completely weak and unable to move the rock just a millimeter.
Is this the end? Oh God, please, let it not be.
Only 3 minutes left of oxygen, and its concentration was so slow that I began to feel my vision fading away. Things were starting to get blur and then darker. All of my last strength was spent in trying once again to push that large boulder, but only for nothing. And soon, the blue sea became a dark one.
......I have lost my conscience...…..
"....."
"....."
"......."
"... Miyu…"
"....M.."
"...Miyuki!.."
"MIYUKI!!"
"..."
COUGH, COUGH
"Oh thank God!!"
"Miyuki! Miyuki! Can you hear me?"
W-what…. What is happening?
"Are you okay Miyuki? Can you hear me" - This was Carlos's voice. My vision was very blurry, and I was still recollecting myself, but his voice was crystal clear. He seemed very close, as well as the others whose voices got mixed in the confusion
"I-I think so" - Finally my vision started coming back, and to my surprise, Carlos was very near my face, while holding the back of my head. He was completely wet, as I could see water dripping from his curly hair, and his jeans darkened from the absorbed water.
"Good"- Responded Carlos. He had a serious and straight face, but his eyes revealed relief, while his hand shaking below my head probably indicated anxiety and stress.
"O-OH MY GOOOOOOD, MIYUKIIII. DON'T SCARE ME LIKE THAT" - Maria jumped between us, hugging me, and pushing Carlos away. She was in tears and hugged me so strongly that the navy sailor by the side actually asked her to step back since I was still recovering my breath.
At my side I could also see the navy crew with first aid equipment, like a portable oxygen tank and mask, but also Ricardo, Prof. Fukuda and Oliver. Oliver was also in tears, while Ricardo whispered something in his ears that I couldn't understand from the distance. I began to start understanding what had happened.
I almost drowned but was saved!
As the feeling of fear for my life and anxiety came back to me, mixed with the relief of being safe, I just couldn't hold back my tears as I started to cry compulsively. That prompted Maria to cry even more and hugging me again, although this time the navy men permitted her to do it as I had enough oxygen now even to cry.
Prof. Fukuda came from the back and put a towel over my shoulders, trying to comfort me.
"Well guys, I think that is the end of our journey for today. Let's head back to the port."
"Miyuki, please come with me inside the cabin. The navy paramedic wants to check you again and there is an A/C under the deck where you can rest more comfortably."
At the infirmary, the paramedic took my pressure and gave me a bed to rest. Prof. Fukuda stayed by my side the whole time. I was still a bit overwhelmed with everything that had happened, but I asked what exactly happened and how come I was still alive.
"Well, Miyuki….. We got pretty scared. Oliver returned to the boat shouting that he got separated from you; he got distracted with a sea turtle and then got separated from you. As the minutes passed and you didn't show up, we began thinking the worst things possible, because obviously your air was running out"
"This prompted a search for you, and each of the divers went on their way back to the water searching for you."
"However….." - He sighed in relief.
"Who really saved you was Carlos."
"Wait, what?"- I questioned
"While everybody was at the water, he remembered, because he overheard my explanation, that the sensor communicated with our computer, and if by chance you had already turned your sensor, we could at least know where you had been. Knowing the location from the other sensors we directly went to yours."
"Carlos was the first who jumped in the water, with his clothes and all. As fast as he could, followed by two sailormen from the boat."
"Luckily you were right next to the sensor. Your left foot got stuck below a rock and you were unconscious when we found you. As your air was running out you simply blacked out."
"After the boys pushed over the rock, Carlos brought you back to the boat, and luckily you were unharmed."
I was completely shocked.
It was Carlos? That selfish Carlos I had met before? Well, there was no reason for Prof. Fukuda to lie, and Carlos was indeed soaked wet.
That is just very surprising. I guess there was more to his personality than I previously thought.
"Miss. Miyuki" - The paramedic directed himself to me - "I must ask that you please follow us to a nearby hospital for some exams. Just to check if everything is alright with you. It is a standard procedure for these situations, I've already called the ambulance and it will be waiting for us as soon as we arrive at the shore."
"O-okay."
Only if you have passed through a similar situation, you realize how fragile and ephemeral life can be. In a matter of seconds, your safety may be at serious risk, and you may never see the light of the day again. I thought that my time had come. But certain things are just not meant to be, and it wasn't yet time for me to go. Sincerely, we must be truly thankful to our family, friends, and God for what we have and for what has been given to us.
I wanted to at least say thanks to Carlos....
Maybe I misjudged him….