Sunday 23 December 2018
C002D5556
SundaySpecial
BDSUNDAY 23
ScubaLagos opens Nigeria to more tourist attractions
M
Jonathan Aderoju any people around the world have not yet known about the underwater dive experience, which is called the Scuba Dive. Scuba diving is a mode of underwater diving where the diver uses a self-contained underwater breathing apparatus (scuba) which is completely independent of surface supply, to breathe underwater. Scuba divers carry their own source of breathing gas, usually compressed air, allowing them greater independence and freedom of movement than surface-supplied divers, and longer underwater endurance than breath-hold divers. Open circuit scuba systems discharge the breathing gas into the environment as it is exhaled, and consist of one or more diving cylinders containing breathing gas at high pressure which is supplied to the diver through a regulator. Nigeria a land that is blessed with a largely spread waters across her borders have begun to experience the beauty of Scuba diving. Diving in Lagos’ waters may have sounded like make-believe a few years back, but today ScubaLagos has made this a reality. ScubaLagos is the 1st Padi Dive Center in Nigeria.
A dive in Lagos’ waters is an opportunity of a lifetime to discover another world of species, color, and sounds. Yes, there are sharks, tuna, and a lot more under water. Believe it or not, they will not bite. Houssam Azem, founder of ScubaLagos says, they do not interfere with diving. “As a diver, you mind your business.” The business of diving is n o t s t r a n g e t o Az e m w h o joined his friend seven years ago for his first adventurous dive in Lagos. Although not their primary line of business, the founding partners began ScubaLagos as an avenue for friends to do healthy things in Lagos that are done everywhere else in the world but nobody knew you could do them in Africa’s busiest city. Many people do not get to see Lagos the way members of ScubaLagos do. In a beautiful sketch, he describes the aquatic experience as more enriching than the outside world. “When you are under water, you are weightless in a completely serene environment. What people don’t understand is that you can actually hear under water. You hear the coral growing on ships. It looks like a flower, but it is a living organism.” Opening this underwater exploration experience to the public came with its own challenges. Safety is top priority in the sport of diving and sev-
eral measures had to be put in place to obtain a PADI Diver Center certification. A lot of air, oxygen, and gear have to be available to students. Supply has to be maintained despite skyrocketing foreign exchange rates. Then, there is the diving terrain. Using their power of foresight, Scuba Lagos has customised the framework of classes to accommodate La-
gos’s unique waters. Students are required by PA D I t o u n d e r g o a n Op e n Water Diving class before hitting the open seas. Eighteen meters is the required depth for a dive in this category. To the Scuba Lagos team, navigating the tough water conditions in Lagos is more important than exploring farther depths. Thus, students of Scuba Lagos must
enroll in Advanced Open Water classes with a depth of 30 meters before braving Lagos’ seas. Other advanced classes such as Enriched Air Diving and Underwater photography are available. Lagos Jet Ski Riders is the private membership club that heavily subsidises Scuba Lagos. With today’s exchange rates, Open Water and Advance Water classes go for about N505, 000. Each class with a maximum of eight students is piloted by a dive master. Classes start off with swimming pool sessions. Thus, the prerequisite is to know how to swim for 200 meters or wade for 15 minutes. With diving classes scheduled in the evenings, after working hours, the goal is to encourage people who work 9-5 jobs to participate. In total, it could take anywhere from 2 to 4 weeks to be ready for Lagos’ deep waters. By exploring Lagos’ waters from wrecks, ScubaLagos is teaching its student divers a new lifestyle. On one hand, they learn to prioritise respect for the environment. However, there are sacrifices divers have to make. Once you become a diver, your whole life, your vacations are planned around diving. During diving season, most divers go to bed early because they have to wake up early for a dive; they drink less because drinking and diving are not compatible. The scuba Lagos takes advantage of the short diving season they have which is in November to April they take advantage of this window by organising a dive every weekend as sea conditions permit. Diving locations are offshore in the ocean, beyond the waters of BarBeach and seven miles from Tarkwa Bay’s waters. By its pioneering exploration efforts, Lagos is now on the map with Mexico and other locations that share underwater attractions offering a feast for the eyes. Diving is age-friendly and Scuba Lagos’ youngest student is 14, while the oldest is 65. Although, a clearance certificate from a physician is needed for students over the age of 45. Training and the right attitude are two things a diver cannot do without. The captivating images of underwater species on Instagram taken from Scuba Lagos’ expeditions, elicit an unequivocal question, Is this really Lagos? Scuba Lagos is showing off a side of Lagos, never seen before to foreign investors.