Written by Jessica Pita, disability activist and PADI AmbassaDiver
Have you ever really considered how grand the open oceans are? The size, the life, the mystery that is still yet to be discovered. It truly puts you in a state of awe and wonder. I have always been drawn to the seven seas and the dream of discovering all that is down there. The dream of being a part of the process that saves it. The dream that I would be able to explore and adventure the grand blue waters. Never would I have thought that I would be doing this in actuality and simultaneously doing it sightless, blind.... having a vision of my journey in the sea without seeing what’s in front of me. All of these thoughts were just part of a childhood dream and as time passed these dreams started turning into an unexpected reality.
At the age of eleven I was diagnosed with a brain tumor. The tumor, we discovered, was laying on the cross section of the optic nerves. This had caused me to be left with a side effect of optic atrophy. The neurosurgeon stated that I was legally blind, my optic nerves having been permanently damaged by the swelling and pressure from the tumor. My central vision is completely black and there are tiny pin pricks of light that look like stars. My peripheral vision is blurred to the extent where I am colour blind as well as having depth perception issues. I can make out shapes or silhouettes of objects based off the colour contrasts of them against their background but more than likely will not be able to identify them. After losing my vision at the age of eleven, many of my dreams faded and I made do with my new situation and learned to make the most of what I still had. Although, never in my life would I have thought to be a scuba diver, qualified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI), especially considering the fact that I was doing it as a registered blind person.
I, Jessica Pita, became the first person in South Africa to scuba dive blind. I’m registered as South Africa’s first PADI adaptive diver, living out a dream of adventuring the seas.
I know what you are thinking…. Why on earth would someone with no vision want to dive? Why would someone who can’t see want to go underwater on a quest of adventure, when one will not actually see all the amazing things down there? I have done many things in my life since losing my sight. Ever since I did, I knew I didn’t need sight to have a vision. I saw myself for who I was and made the most of what I was given. I started horse show jumping on more professional bases. I took up drum, guitar, ukulele and singing lessons. I tried out surfing and ziplining. Never did I think of scuba diving. The ocean was so important to me, but I never considered taking part as I saw it as a 'seeing' recreational activity. How was someone with no sight supposed to be safe and communicate and see all that was down there? However when I got the chance to test the adaptive program for the first time in South Africa, I could not see my life without a regulator and air tank in it.
The idea of wandering and exploring the ocean changed for me after the first time I put the adaptive dive techniques program to the test. This was the point where I knew that literally anything can happen and nothing would be seen as impossible by me again. The first dive in the open ocean will stay with me forever. The descent. All at once, darkness and silence and then suddenly hearing the strangest and most amazing noises I had ever heard. Seriously, I want to slap myself for thinking that this was not for me.
The ocean is not just about what you can see. The sea life and coral make the most beautiful images for the eyes to settle on. What is not noticed, is the sound. Even the ocean speaks.
The great crackle of the reef. Never will I forget the first time. The ocean is wonderful, it even makes itself known to those who cannot see it. Of course, it would be quite something to see what I was diving with, but the sound alone is enough to get me hyped up with excitement and energy. After hearing about the life of the ocean I see it in a totally new light. Excuse the pun. The ocean is something we should respect with everything we have and never give it less credit than it is worth.
I feel like in the deep blue, even someone without sight can get blinded by its beauty.
Many people ask me why I took up a sport that involves seeing the ocean for what it is. Many people question the worth of me taking part as it does not make sense to them why I would participate in a sport where people have joy in seeing the different sea life and corals that one may come cross on a dive. The thing about the sea life is that it is louder than people give it credit for, and my sense of hearing comes in handy when I am adventuring the underwater world. Listening to the life of the coral makes me aware of whether we are diving above a reef or above sand patches. It gives me an idea of how alive the reef is or if it is more bleached than a healthy reef.
The use of my senses under the water is just important to me as it is above the water -- my sense of touch comes into play a lot more than others would think. The usual scuba diving communication works with visual hand signals. This obviously is a problem when you cannot see… As part of the adaptive dive techniques program that I got to take a part in, we transformed signals into tactile ones I could feel. My dive buddy and I are constantly linked at the hand, he will squeeze my hand to ask if I’m ok. I reply with the normal dive signal as my dive buddy can see. My dive buddy will use this form of communication to tell me about the sea life and terrain, which helps me make a mental image of what the area looks like, and the life that’s swimming around us. With these signals I know when there are trumpet fish around us because of the tap on my chin. I get the greatest excitement knowing a few meters in front of me are sharks from the humming of the Jaws theme tune from my buddy. I know that the terrain is filled with tall corals as my dive buddy moves my hand up and down, giving me an idea of what size the corals are or how the reef slopes up and down. I ask again… Who needs to see really, to get a good experience of adventuring the seven seas?
My journey with the underwater world is definitely one which is so different from the usual person. Not seeing the ocean and all the amazing things it holds means taking it in by hearing, feeling, and creative ways that people often underestimate. Adapting everything I do to make it possible to still be a part of living as an ocean explorer. An ocean carer. Trying to make the smallest of differences that may add up to something great. Something impactful. Something that will make someone else see that you don’t have to see to be able to fully enjoy the vision you create for yourself.
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