Take a Closer Look at the World Beneath the Waves

By Simon Barnett

I don't know whether you've ever given much thought to the images of Earth, as seen from space. When I see such photographs, I'm often first drawn to think about how lucky astronauts are to be able to enjoy such a view.

It's a great example of how a few lucky individuals have been able to experience something that is beyond the reach of most of us. That may change in the future, of course, given various plans to provide commercial flights into space. For the time being, however, we are talking about a select few.

There's always something rather dramatic about people being able to push the frontiers of what's possible. That bring me on to the next subject that I consider when I see those images of our planet from above. It's hard to avoid concluding that a very large portion of the planet is blue.

We may think that cities and urban areas are sprawling, or that the great forests of the world still cover a large surface area. The reality, however, is that the vast bulk of the planet appears to be made up of the oceans and seas.

Despite this fact, it's true to say that we know little about the depths of these oceans. In some cases, we have more knowledge about what's present on other planets. That seems to me to be quite extraordinary and it's a thought that often drives my love of exploring the seas and oceans.

Once you start to investigate what is to be found beneath the waves, you discover a world that you hardly knew existed. This is a world of wonderful creatures, bright colours and new experiences. What I find strange is that so few of us choose to experience it.

When I'm diving, I realise that I am in a world that is quiet, populated by sea creatures and yet empty of human existence. It makes for a remarkable way of exploring what is available. When I visit a new country or coastal location, I always ensure that I take a look at what's present beyond the beaches. By failing to do so, I strongly believe that I'm missing out on a large part of the story.

I now encourage others to take a look at what can be found once they leave the beach. My friends and family members may be getting bored of hearing about this from me, but I hope that you have found it to be informative! The next time that you are on a beach, think about whether you might gain from the experience of seeking out what is to be found in the water.