Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it opened a new, exotic and water-filled world to Tan Xiaolong.

Thoughts of the mysterious world thousands of leagues beneath the sea are what lured Tan, a 40-year-old bank clerk, to take the plunge.

And the beauty of the deep never ceases to amaze him.

"Different from the scenery on land, the seabed is a world of wonders. I am always thrilled by the fascinating seascape before my eyes," said the amateur scuba-diving coach.

Diving, he added, lets people get closer to nature than does any other sport.

"Even golf, regarded by many people to be the hobby of noblemen, and which has attracted seekers of a new lifestyle in China, cannot rival scuba-diving," Tan boasted.

"Golfers, like the spectators, can't enjoy the beauty of nature, with the exception of some well-trimmed lawns," Tan added.

Scuba-divers, on the other hand, "blend" in with nature, he continued.

"After 'dipping' themselves into the sea water, divers swim to their hearts' content, much like the mermaids about 40 metres below," Tan said.

"They find so many species of marine animals, frolicking about a stone's throw away, just like their close companions."

Curiosity caused Tan to dive head-long into the hobby about 10 years ago. He is captivated by the ecology beneath the water's surface.

And he still hasn't satisfied his seemingly insatiable curiosity. Instead, he has taken his hobby to a new level: He has become a diving instructor.

That combination - diving and teaching - helps Tan escape the stresses, and psychological burdens, that come from his day job.

Whenever he feels stressed and tired, he plans a trip to the colourful world beneath the sea.

"It is not an exaggeration that I find something new each time," Tan said, with a broad smile.

A scuba-diving trip last month off Malaysia still gives him cause to smile. He still becomes as excited as a child at Christmas when he thinks of that excursion.

Tan and his colleagues, who snorkeled about 30 metres under the ocean's surface off Malaysia's coast, were astonished as they watched large turtles resting at the bottom of the sea.

"Like hermits living a leisurely and carefree life, most of them paid no attention to us. Only a few of them woke up when we approached. Some swam slowly near us. But none seemed afraid by our unexpected arrival," Tan said.

He was also surprised to learn sharks, widely feared as ferocious eaters of people, were quite docile. Contrary to his expectations, the sharks swam away quietly when they noticed Tan and his colleagues. Tan, who always thought sharks mauled people, watched in disbelief.

"My recent marine-life experiences helped me reach a new, completely different conclusion: Some species of sharks are not merciless meat eaters. Instead, they are anti-social neighbours," Tan said.

Despite the tremendous amount of joy he gets from scuba-diving, Tan occasionally encounters great difficulties, even danger, during his excursions.

For example, he has been stung many times on the face, arms and ankles by jellyfish.

"I dare not belittle them because the cuts left by them swelled up quickly. And their bites itched for a long time," Tan remarked.

Once, while diving off Luzon, the largest of the Philippines' islands, Tan feared for his life. He and his colleagues were caught in a strong undercurrent. The undercurrent was so fast and strong that Tan and his buddies had no choice but to hold, as tight as they could, to the rocks and coral.

They were rescued by the crew of a passing ship.

Despite such experiences, Tan said he is unfazed by the difficulties and dangers associated with scuba-diving.

"It is natural for scuba-divers to meet with such events. Generally speaking, diving gives us much joy, and good health," he said.

Harbouring a deep love for the underwater world, Tan has gone scuba-diving off Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines and Malaysia. He has also plunged into China's Bohai Sea and the South China Sea.

Tan believes those waters are ideal venues for scuba-diving, and well worth visiting from time to time.

"But it is not enough for an ambitious person like me. I dream of exploring waters outside of Asia for instance, the Caribbean Sea, which is widely considered to be scuba-diver's mecca," Tan said.

"Just remember: The temptation of being a bold scuba-diver in the Caribbean Sea cannot be resisted."

(China Daily 11/24/2004 page5)