Diving, and the Depths of Thought Chiara Passirani

Before I started diving, I yearned for a special place with an amazing view reachable only by a chosen few: the top of Everest, or a view of Earth from a porthole of a space shuttle. However, from the first moment I put on a mask and a pair of fins, swam as far as the reef and saw the marine habitat, fish and colourful corals, I knew that I had found the perfect place. It was like my soul had finally found peace, a place where I could recharge my batteries after long periods of daily routine.

I am surrounded by salt water, sunrays seeping through the water to reach my skin and brush my face delicately. A marine habitat is a microcosm of life itself. From light, the first member of the food chain, coming from far far away in space, transforming into energy and reaching the last members of that chain, the great predators, I think there is something extraordinary in how living beings are locked together in this underwater world. I can observe the perfection of things; I can admire the fixed pattern of the Pomancathus Imperator which repeats those yellow and blue stripes in each individual, in perfection and in eternity.

I have spent a great part of my life searching for perfection, believing that it would give me more happiness...