Scuba-diving at Netrani Island, beach fun at Murudeshwar and Gokarna

Landed on a highway close to Murudeshwar and trekked up to our humble lodges with 29 others. For some inexplicable reason, I wanted to ditch the whole thing and just sleep off the weekend. I returned to my senses pretty soon after I had those scary thoughts. Breakfasted, clothed ourselves accordingly and marched up to the Diving office. Signed the its-my-fault-if-I-die forms with aplomb and walked back to the beach from where we took a boat to the Nethrani Island. It took us 2.5 hours, 3 pukes from sea-sick fellowmen, countless are-we-there-yet's by proper adults, infinite photography sessions until we could finally reach the island. Once in the vicinity, the anchors were put firmly in place and people were encouraged to jump off, unceremoniously. Jump, I did, but owing to the fact that I haven't swam much since 9th grade, I clung to the side of the boat, my knees badly scraped by the bottom rusty side of the boat. But pretty soon I gathered my senses, let go and floated. And snorkelled. What a joy it was! I felt like a fish myself, only with weird head-gear. And tired legs, of course!After tiring myself out, I waited my turn for the dive and hoped that I would get a good instructor. Yeah yeah, I haven't got a diving certificate(yet!) and I still need an instructor to accompany me. But the instructor, Kiran was chummy and nice and managed to speak well as much as he can with signs(underwater).

The dive was exquisite. The water isn't crystal clear, but I would rate it at a decent 7. There were plenty of fish and coral reefs. No disappointments there. But, most of all, scuba-diving itself is an out-of-body experience, you hear your breath for the first time and that's all there is to it. You, the big sea, the small fish and your breath. For once, I felt like an intruder. Kiran didn't let me disturb any shoals of fish, he gave a warning pat to my legs every time they seemed like straying in the fish path. But I couldn't help it. They were so very tiny, all going in gangs like cute, little Nemos I had to make them know that I was with them by sticking out my webby feet. The thirty minutes couldn't have gone much faster. The feeling of being so light, floating across, the feeling of being at peace, total harmony with everything around you - is to be experienced.The next day we had more water-rides, but everything pale in comparison to the diving.