While watching sunset from the bridge, on first day of my trip at Sun Island Resort, I had prepared itinerary for the next day which included my passion “Scuba Diving”.
Before moving back to resort, as per plan, I visited the in-house dive shop located at the end of bridge.
I inquired the manager on availability of diving slot for next day and also informed him about my certification.
The time I visited Maldives, I was equipped with Open Water certification from SSI, which gave me skills to dive till the depth of 18 meters of 60 feet.
After checking the schedule, the response of the shopkeeper was disheartening for me, since no diving slot was available for next day morning but it was available for next day evening.
He asked me, my date of return from the resort.
I informed him my date of departure being morning of 27th November, which was insufficient in terms of standard time gap between dive and flight. (I will share technical reasons in my subsequent blog)
After hearing my schedule, he refused to take me for dive at any cost, since, there was no sufficient gap between my dive time and my return flight, which as per rule should be atleast 24 hours.
I urged him many times to check for any possibility tomorrow morning, but he refused every time stating that, there is heavy booking for diving in morning slot, had I contacted them in the morning or afternoon, there was a chance.
Surely, it was a disheartening moment for me, as I was standing deprived of my passion but the rules have to be followed.
Nevertheless, all options were closed for diving from the resort and next hope was Rasdhoo island only, which was my second stop of the Journey.
So, when I reached Rasdhoo island, it was my only hope left for diving at Maldives and in order to follow my passion, I visited the best and professional dive shop of Rasdhoo, which was Rasdhoo Dive Centre.
When I reached Rasdhoo Dive centre, it was almost evening time and at the dive centre my query was same.
At dive centre, details of my certification level and dive preference was discussed but the response of dive centre resulted in my emotions taking “deep dive.”
There was no dive slot available for next day morning, since it was full. Further, the available slot was for Advanced Level diver because a group had booked for the advanced level dive, but my certification was not sufficient to join the group.
I was feeling heavy disheartened, this time. However, I was told that a slot may be available for next day afternoon, which shall be confirmed by late evening.
So, finally there was a ray of hope.
As per schedule, I reached the dive shop in late evening and my luck favored me this time.
I got the slot for next day 2:00 PM. I reserved my slot, shared my hotel details, contact number and returned to my hotel.
In excited mood, I reached dive centre at around 1:30 PM which was 30 minutes before the schedule and after marking my attendance, I was waiting for dive to begin.
Since, it was noon and I had not taken my lunch, so I took permission from owner and went to nearby restaurant for having lunch.
After I ordered my food at restaurant, I was keeping a watch on the time but the restaurant took 30 minutes in preparation of food. I was relaxed because, I had already shared my location to the dive centre and I was expecting that the dive centre will call me once they are ready for departure.
It took another 30 minutes to complete my food and I rushed towards the dive shop, I was confident that there is delay in dive to start, since no one came from dive centre to take me and the restaurant was almost 200 mts from the dive shop.
When, I reached the dive shop, I saw two persons from the dive shop were standing at the gate of shop and as soon as they saw me, they questioned me, about me reaching late for dive.
I told them, that, I reached the shop 30 minutes before the scheduled time and before leaving for lunch, I had informed staff of dive centre about my location and gave my mobile number too.
Now, there was again a twist, they informed me that “ You are late for dive, boat has already left 15 minutes back, we waited for you but since we were getting late, the boat left”.
I was stunned to hear these words and annoyed too.
Since, after informing everything, somehow there was mis-communication and my entire plan was spoiled.
As an alternative, I asked them to provide another time slot.
They informed me to contact in the evening at around 4:00 PM, for next dive slot in the evening and they asked me to come prepared for the dive, in case the slot is available.
I was annoyed and disheartened again and returned to my hotel room.
I could not understand, what was actually happening with my luck. Everytime, my effort is getting spoiled due to some or the other issue.
But my efforts were still on, and at around 3:30 PM, I again started my walk towards the dive centre but as I stepped out of my hotel, my hopes were completely shattered….