Jack Laurie on The Underwater World

A Hidden World Beneath the Waves

Hey, Jack Laurie here. Every time I dive, I feel like I’m stepping into another universe. The ocean is full of life - schools of fish moving like one big creature, manta rays gliding past, and coral that looks like it was designed by an artist. No two dives ever feel the same. One day it’s a hidden shipwreck, another day a sea turtle cruising along like it doesn’t even notice me. And if you’re lucky, you might see the glow of bioluminescent plankton that makes the water feel alive.

What amazes me most is how every spot has its own story. Shallow reefs are packed with color and movement, with tiny fish darting around and eels sneaking out from holes in the rocks. Cooler waters feel completely different, like underwater forests where kelp sways with the current and creatures like wolf eels and octopuses suddenly appear.

Night dives are maybe the most unreal of all. Under the beam of a dive light, everything changes. Animals you never see during the day come out, and sometimes corals glow in ways that make it feel like another planet. The craziest thing I’ve seen was bioluminescent plankton. Every move of my hand made blue light swirl in the dark water, like swimming through stars.

But it’s not only about what you see. What I love most is the quiet. Down there, it’s just me, my breathing, and the ocean. The stress and noise from everyday life disappear. It’s one of the only places I know where I can be completely present, focused only on breathing, floating, and the world around me. That feeling of peace is what keeps me coming back.