La daabacay: 15.10.2023
When night falls, larvae and other creatures come from great depths (500+ meters) towards the moonlight and feed on the resulting biomass.
An artificial moon in the shape of an approx. 50 cm ball in a lifebuoy with a 20 m long line and bright lamps, attached every 5 m, freely drifting is the utensil for blackwater diving.
Here's a link if you want to read more about the technology:
https://www.diverbliss.com/blackwater-diving-for-beginners/
I had a lot of concerns beforehand: Can I even film anything? Is it more for professionals or for simple tourists like us? Etc. etc. etc.
Everyone has their own guide who is equipped with a position light and off we went.
As soon as you reach 5 m, the regulator almost falls out of your mouth, such is the positive surprise and unique experience.
Bioluminescent jellyfish that reproduce all disco colors and float through the water like alien spaceships.
So-called barrel salps made up of free-floating tunicates in which small fish or shrimps hide:
Sometimes “only” 20 cm long or over 2 m long. Very impressive. When properly illuminated by the diving guide, it can unfold optimally.
Plus tons of all marine animals in the larval and juvenile stages. You drift in a seemingly endless primordial soup and lose your sense of space and time.
Every now and then it helps to look at the dive computer to get an overview of the time and depth. But thanks to the guide and his blue position light, nothing goes wrong and I always feel very comfortable.
The dive is difficult to put into words: Fascinating, unique, unforgettable but also easy, relaxing and absolutely recommended for everyone who hasn't done it yet. It definitely won't be the last time.
The films turned out well, but unfortunately they cannot be shared here.
Kind regards from Jörg