Riding in a yellow submarine is like no other. A first experience on the submarine is very impressive. When the tight hatch opens, the world outside no longer exists, but the vibration of machines and smell of metal and filtered air take over. This is the first time as a tourist, and everything is intensified: the shaking of the ground where you stand, the low light, and the fact that one is completely submerged in water. It is not just a trip; it is some sort of immersion into the world that not many people get an opportunity to observe firsthand.
The Initial Claustrophobia And How It Fades Away
There is the cramped space that immediately strikes you. It is not a luxury submarine that is being designed, but a functional one, and no inch is wasted. The passages are narrow, the ceilings are low, and the doors, which are round and heavy, close with a metallic clang. To begin with, it is an uncomfortable experience as it seems that there is pressure closing down your walls, and imagining that one is hundreds of feet underground may set an impulse of panic. However, this takes an unforeseen twist when you get inside the vessel. It starts getting rid of the feeling that is the first claustrophobia and introduces a weird feeling of being secure. The crew is practicing their steps effortlessly, and their composure is contagious. The little space begins to turn into less of a trap, but into a cocoon that protects you against the pressure of the ocean, the massive space outside.
The Sounds of the Deep: A Symphony Of Mechanical Whirs And Ocean Murmurs
You can not find silence in a submarine. There is never total silence, not even with the sound suppressors on the engines, because there is the constant sound of the air filtration system and sometimes the practice of metal and bits and pieces on the ship readjusting to the pressure, and, should you listen hard enough, the gentle chatter of the ocean itself. Deeper still, the external world weirdly finds expression. The sound of the pings that the sonar makes is like the songs of the birds underwater, and when you get lucky enough, you may also hear the eerie songs of the whales passing by. The sound inside a submarine makes it a giant microphone, and audible sounds that would have been inaudible at the surface. Always a reminder that you are a tourist in a foreign world.
The Unsettling Yet Mesmerizing Sensation Of Being Underwater
No smooth rocking as in a ship. A submarine unfolds itself with a sort of deliberate creepiness. You notice the waves not at all since you are beneath them, moving silently as one who is in the depths. The fact that, sadly, most parts have no windows contributes to the surrealism of it all; you are quite aware you are inside some underwater vessel, but it is easy to forget about it until you happen to walk in front of one of the few portholes. Looking out, you get an ink black darkness punctuated by bioluminescent flashes or the lurking in the dark of a curious sea creature. The pressure of the ocean on you is not only disturbing, but gazing at it, confusing, the paradox that cannot be erased easily after you have surfaced.
The Crew’s Routine: A Glimpse Into A Highly Disciplined World
Life aboard a submarine is flawlessly like a well-oiled mechanism, and as a tourist, you are seated in the front row to witness this craft. The crew works in shifts; their work hours are perfectly balanced to keep the vessel in balance. Everything is done in a quiet, efficient manner, gauges checked, ballast adjusted. No margin of error is allowed, and the professionalism of the crew is rather astonishing and reassuring. Observing them at the job, you start to realize how blind trust is put on their abilities- you and they put our lives to that test.
The Food: Surprisingly Good Meals In The Middle Of The Ocean
Food is one of the least anticipated things in life in a submarine. Aboard the submarines, though, despite the lousy living conditions, they are recognized for serving good meals. The galley is small, yet the chefs are magicians, and with few ingredients, they can produce comfort foods. Fresh bread, rich soups, and even something sweet, such as ice cream, appear. Eating is a collective activity, a sure experience of getting away with the otherwise stern training facility. To the tourists, it is a pleasant surprise – even in the underwater world, good food comes first.
The Final Ascent: Returning To The Surface with A New Perspective
To come back to the surface is as interesting as going down. It empties the ballast tanks, and the submarine comes up gradually as it buoys up. As you surface, all of a sudden the sun comes pouring through open hatches, and in sharp contrast to the artificial lighting of the interior. Take one step back on dry land with the realization of how much the ocean is and the creativity of those who explore it.
