Like Catalina in my novel The Water’s Fine, I love the ocean! Although until I learned to scuba dive, I was somewhat afraid of its mysterious depths and what could be lurking below the water’s surface.
Some might say, “I don’t want to know!” But sinking beneath the surface and breathing underwater has only increased my love for the creative, unique beauty of the seas that cover about seventy percent of the earth’s surface.
I’ve been fortunate to dive in a variety of locations, including just off the southern California coast. The South La Jolla State Marine Reserve is one of the few kelp forests in the world. The kelp forest is home to giant sea bass, senorita fish, and the California state fish, the bright orange garibaldi that flashes like miner’s gold in the water. Moving through the swaying kelp stalks feels as if you’re floating through the top of a jungle canopy.
Another part of the reserve can be reached from a beach that’s a little bit farther north. It’s challenging in both locations to maneuver through the crashing surf in full scuba gear that weighs about twenty-five pounds! Once I gave my daughter a black eye because I was knocked over into her.
Diving at the Scripps/La Jolla Submarine Canyon, cruising over a bed of live purple-veined sand dollars set like cookies on edge reminds me of visiting the desert. The bottom is mostly sandy until the canyon rim and the creatures and marine vegetation are sparse. But the bright red and blue nudibranchs (informally known as sea slugs) are a splash of vibrant color against the browns and grays.
Clearer and warmer waters are a riot of color and life and it’s difficult to know where to look. The sun’s rays penetrate deep into the Caribbean and the Coral Sea where the Great Barrier Reef is the world’s largest reef system. Soft corals of purples, oranges, pinks, and greens dance and wave in the currents like prairie grass in a gentle breeze. Brilliant fish dart about, and turtles hover in a euphoric daze in cleaning stations. Eels—green, black or striped—poke their ugly snouts out of hidey holes. Octopuses swim in pulse-like movements. Reef sharks shelter near rocky ledges, seahorses cling to seaweed with curly tails, and lobsters favor crevices.
Older shipwrecks, such as the 1867 Wreck of the Rhone near the British Virgin Islands, are covered in corals that provide shelter to myriads of colorful sea anemones and the most curious-looking fish. It’s possible to hear parrot fish nibbling on the dead bits of coral, scraping away the algae.
I chose to set The Water’s Fine in the Sea of Cortez, also known as the Gulf of California, a narrow sea that separates the Baja California Peninsula from the Mexican mainland. The sea is home to a rich ecosystem of marine life, including sea lions which figure prominently in my story. Diving in these waters is more challenging due to the swift currents. The sea and its legends are important elements in my novel.
Entering the water at sunset for a night dive is a special experience. The water ripples above are molten gold while shadows creep into the depths below. Soon the water darkens black as ink. Dive lights are mere pinpricks in the vast expanse of the mysterious ocean; there’s no telling what’s beyond the reach of a diver’s handheld flashlight!
At night, Giant Manta Rays that can weigh up to three tons fly through the Sea of Cortez on wings spanning more than twenty feet. Scuba divers can kneel on the sandy ocean floor at depths of about fifty feet and capture shimmering plankton, the rays’ microscopic food source, in their dive light beams. Rays execute graceful flips, skimming just above the divers’ heads as they vacuum up the squirming food.
The earth’s oceans are teeming with incredible life. I hope readers enjoy learning about some of what can be seen in the Sea of Cortez when they read The Water’s Fine.
Amazon Link: The Water’s Fine
Recommended Article: The Water’s Fine – a Review
More great videos that enhance your post. Thanks for hosting Janice!