Breaking barriers at the Great Barrier Reef

Though it is one of the top attractions in Australia, going diving or snorkelling at the Great Barrier Reef required me to break many of my internal barriers.

- Rameshinder Singh Sandhu

"Your ticket also includes snorkelling gear. You may have never snorkelled before but today could be your first opportunity as we have experienced guides who will lead you."

Rather than getting enveloped in excitement, my mind became muddled and fearful as my ears caught this announcement on a scenic ferry trip to the Green Island, one of the many islands in the Great Barrier Reef and one of world's most celebrated natural wonders. It was the fear of water which stood before me and with it many thoughts. "When the ticket includes experiencing the reef through a glass boat and a semi-submarine, why should I go down in the water, which could also be unsafe. What if I drown?" I kept telling myself.

But thankfully, my mental block began to slowly shatter as I learnt that there were many first timers in the queue and who had requested for a guide, though at an additional cost of AUD 59 (INR 3240). To gain some more confidence, I asked around. "If you have come so far -all the way from India, don't leave without this experience as you may regret later," advised one of them, a college student from Santiago.

Minutes later, still making my mind up, as I headed up to the top deck, looking around at the scenery dotted with small hills and the large ocean and Cairns town located on the tropical North-Eastern coast of Australia. On the otherside, from where we had departed, I came across a family from France, which had planned to go scuba diving. Within a minute, I found myself talking to them. "If others can, why can't you?," a straight-forward question was thrust at me. I did not need any more convincing and rapidly joined the queue for snorkelling gear. I signed up for a guide, collected my gear and the swim suit, even though I was still nervous, though felt better and more certain of myself when I saw myself dressed in the swim suit.