In the bustling narrative of life, there are places that serve as parentheses, brackets that separate you from the humdrum world. For me, one such sanctuary is Catalina Island, an aquatic refuge where I’ve found the space to slow down, contemplate, and lose myself in the silent hum of the ocean.
During a peculiar New Year’s week, in the throes of a global pandemic, I found myself returning to this comforting parenthesis. As the world above water grappled with chaos, I took solace beneath the waves, at Casino Point, a beacon of tranquility that promised an escape.
Casino Point is a hidden marvel. It’s not just a dive site, but an underwater city park – a testament to Catalina’s commitment to marine conservation. It’s the antithesis of the urban metropolis, where the hustle and bustle are replaced by the gentle sway of kelp forests and the languid movements of marine life.
Every day, as I descended into the ocean from Casino Point steps, the usual clatter of thoughts and worries seemed to dissolve in the salty water. Weightless, my mind floated free, unhinged from the anchors of the terrestrial world.
On one particular dive at a depth of a hundred feet, I met a resident of Catalina’s underwater city who offered a different perspective on life: a large, very friendly sheepshead. In the world above, size often breeds fear, but in the silent depth of the ocean, the toothy grin was an invitation to a new friendship.
The sheepshead, with its striking black and red stripes, approached me, unafraid. In its large, curious eyes, I saw a reflection of the world that was different from mine – a world where fear was replaced by curiosity, where boundaries were respected, not enforced, and where coexistence was the norm, not the exception.
It swam around me, not in the predatory manner that we often associate with the larger creatures of the sea, but with an inviting, playful demeanor. Its size, which could have been intimidating, was a manifestation of its gentle presence. In that moment, we were not diver and fish, intruder and resident, but two creatures sharing a silent dialogue.
In the world above, the New Year is traditionally heralded with fireworks and loud celebrations. In the underwater city of Casino Point, my New Year was marked by the quiet companionship of a sheepshead. Amidst the global turmoil, it was a reminder of the enduring harmony in nature, a harmony that we often forget.
As I submerged in the sea each day, the sound of my regulator bubbling away seemed to mimic the quiet laughter of the ocean, its soothing voice whispering stories of a world unburdened by human anxieties. Each dive was a lesson in humility and coexistence, taught not by words, but by experiences, by the touch of cool water on my skin, by the sight of sunlight dancing on the seafloor, and by the company of a large, friendly sheepshead.
The joy of diving at Catalina Island isn’t merely about the thrill of exploration; it’s about the peace found in being a small, silent observer in a world that continues to dance to its own rhythm, undeterred by the chaos above. It’s about recognizing that even in challenging times, pockets of peace exist – we just need to dive a little deeper to find them.
Deco Stops 
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