I t ’s
not
exac t l y
what
you
want to hea r
be fore
emba r k i ng
on your
f i r s t deep -wate r
d i ve.
I’m in Tenerife
01
, preparing to
swimwith the fishes
02
, and scuba instructor
Andy Molloy is doing his best to scare me.
“People have actually become paralysed
or even died,” says the Liverpudlian, as we
check our equipment. “What I’m saying is
that it’s worth taking the correct
precautions,” he continues, a cheeky grin
forming, “Otherwise, you’re not going to be
writing a very good article, are you?”
Molloy is talking about the possibility of
developing decompression sickness. Better
known as the bends, it happens if you swim
to the surface too quickly, but right now
there are more pressing things on my mind.
It’s true I’m nervous about heading down to a
depth of 30m, but I’m even more concerned
about what my editor’s going to say about the
story I’mworking on. For this month’s
challenge, I’ve got orders to visit the highest
and lowest points on this, the largest of the
Canary Islands. But the thing is, technically,
I’ve already failed.
Perhaps it’s best if we rewind to my arrival
at Tenerife South Airport three days ago.
As the wheels touched down on the runway
03
,
it was clear that my fellow passengers were
already in holiday mode. With sun streaming
in through the windows, there was a buzz in
the air as their thoughts turned, I imagined,
to the prospect of soaking up some rays
04
and,
no doubt, enjoying a drink or two. I, however,
was a little less relaxed. This was to be the
start of my first foray into one of the world’s
most adventurous new pastimes.
PHOTOS
VICKY LANE, STEVE KNIGHT
01
03
02
07
05
08
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