Bubble Heads

Mauritius, another one of those iconic island destinations we hear of so often and only dream of getting to, definitely lives up to it's reputation. What struck me most about this beautiful island apart from the azure waters, palm trees and beaches, was the adventure that it breathes. I have not yet experienced an island with such a vast diversity of activities to indulge in. From water skiing, to sailing, pedalboats and scuba diving, and that was just at the resort where I was staying.

Having said all that, it's the unique experience that I am after and despite the fact that my most recent attempt at water skiing while I was in Mauritius was definitely a far more positive experience than the last time I tried... because I actually got up and achieved a straight run without bouncing multiple times on the water, the experience I'd like to share is one unlike most others I've ever had.

On first impression it reminded me of Jules Verne's classic novel "20000 Leagues under the sea" (or at least, the cover pictures of that novel). More like something from Star wars than an aquatic past time. I still have no clue as to what the official name is but I know first hand that it involves a plastic/ perspex bubble (bell) being placed over your head, (with a winch and pulley I may add), a heavy wait belt around your waist, a deafening, continuous blast of air into the same bell your head shares, a yawn or two and cud chewing action of the jaw to compensate for the pressure you feel around your head, (at this point I imagined my head being nuked in a microwave) and then a nudge from behind to encourage the walk of faith into a blue abyss (okay so maybe it was only four or five meters of water) but it felt like a major separation from the elements above water that I am so familiar with.



My mission was to film the Tropika Island of Treasure contestants participating in their underwater challenge. It took a few minutes to acclimatize to this noisy, awkward bubble on my head and to orientate myself in unfamiliar surroundings, but being comfortable underwater, within a short time I was recording this strange, almost historical event, fish swimming in the hundreds around me as I did so. I'm not sure it's the most practical method of underwater exploration, with pipes following you wherever you venture, it certainly is not the most eco-friendly means as it involves stomping around on the ocean floor but I will say that breathing normally in a bubble of air with an ability to literally talk to yourself underwater as you walk the ocean floor is an experience that I will not soon forget.