Club Med Insider

Teen diver in the Bahamas

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Gently floating along in silence broken up by bubbles ascending
Vivid, vibrant colors passing by
Fish flying by like an underwater sunset
Ancient coral acting as a shelter to many
Nonchalantly gliding without a worry
Just waiting for a miracle to pass us by

Suddenly, I feel an abrupt, urgent nudge on my tank. Quickly following was a whistle. Instantaneously, I find my Dad’s eyes and follow to where they’re gazing. My eyes open wide and without the support of my regulator my mouth would have followed. Twenty feet beneath our fins swam two hammer shaped miracles: graceful and exquisite beings sharing an ocean with us. Hammerhead sharks , one of nature’s most amazing creatures.

We all stare, amazed and awed, attempting to snap a quick photo, with the click of my Dad’s camera the Hammerhead sharks, skittish, scurry away. That was when I knew, and I assume we all knew, that was only the start of an incredible experience.

That was only the second dive of many on an amazing trip to Club Med on Columbus Isle with my Dad. I began diving at the age of ten and became an advanced diver at eleven. Every dive I have ever been on I have shared with my father, Jeff Toorish. He is an extremely experienced diver, underwater cave explorer and works for Advanced Diver Magazine. Even he has to admit that the best dives he goes on are with me though.

Diving is a really special thing we enjoy together that only we can go through together. Diving in waters off Columbus Isle was an unforgettable experience because every site we went to was so different, but never failed to be breathtaking.

There were hammerheads swimming by, reef sharks joining them, sting rays taking their time on the sea bed, and sea turtles elegantly gracing us with their presence, always telling a story as they pass. Seeing where Christopher Columbus dropped anchor allowed me to take a first hand look at history.

Learning about history in school can be a bore but seeing it through your own eyes, first hand, making comparisons, and seeing the real history engraved on an anchor is something else all together.

One of the most memorable dives on the trip was to a “chimney” coral formation. This is a tube in the coral that starts on at the top of a wall and goes down about 140 feet where is opens up. It is similar to diving in a cave (something I want to learn to do). I dive into the hold at the top and begin my descent. As I do, it gets darker but fascinating. My Dad is taking pictures and each flash illuminates the walls of the chimney. We exit in a hole at about 90 feet and return to the shallower depth of about 40 feet at the top of the wall. It is incredible and I love diving in unusual places like that.

Other resorts I’ve dived have been different though. There is hardly any interaction from the instructors to the divers. At Club Med you create a real relationship with the dive team on a higher level than anywhere else. It makes for an easy-going, comfortable adventure. It also seems like you make friends that you may get to see over and over. My dad knew many of the people working at Club Med Columbus Isle from a trip he took to Club Med Turkoise on Turks and Caicos last year.

Diving at Club Med Columbus Isle is something every diver should try to do. The diving is amazing and so is the dive staff, especially Vinny and Amy, who spent a lot of time with us, showing us the points of interest and making sure every dive was more than special.

I hope to go back very soon (hint hint, Dad).