From underwater volcanoes to the astounding array of dreamlike sea creatures, the ocean is a beautiful mystery that continues to fascinate humankind.

Aqhari Afiq fell in love with the sea while growing up in Miri and Kota Kinabalu.

“I was nine when my dad first took me snorkelling. I was initially terrified of the fish and corals and swam back to the shore,” the 32-year-old scuba diving instructor admitted.

However, he was determined to beat his nerves, and at 21, he got his first taste of scuba diving after signing up for the Open Water Diver Course with his twin brother.

“It felt right; I have never liked something so much in my life. Besides the adrenaline rush, diving is also meditative and therapeutic; you get the best of both worlds.”

After college, Aqhari worked as a broadcaster, but the long hours made him depressed and he often found himself thinking about his previous or future diving trips.

So, he saved his money to pay for his rescue diver certification. Then he set his sights on becoming a scuba diving instructor.

But the costs held him back until he chanced upon a sponsored scuba diving instructor programme. It did require that he quit his corporate job though, and although he struggled with the decision, he quit.

“I needed a cause that was bigger than myself, as cliché as it sounds.”

After stints at Perhentian and Mabul Islands, Aqhari received an offer to manage a dive centre on a remote island in Myanmar and he jumped at the opportunity to explore uncharted waters.

“My first dive there was amazing; never in my life have I seen a fish so curious!” he reminisced, adding that a school of yellow fusiliers trailed him for about 20 minutes as they had never encountered divers before.

At the moment, Aqhari is working at a local telecommunications company while waiting for travel restrictions to Myanmar to be lifted.

Besides being involved in various marine conservation activities, he is also a member of Sea Bells – a social enterprise that plants a coral in Tioman Island with every organic T-shirt sold.

Aqhari has had many memorable dives. Like the time he witnessed a grey reef shark attack a sailfish while diving in Sipadan. Or the time he spotted a school of scalloped hammerhead sharks.

“I once saw on TV that you could attract sharks by squashing an empty bottle, and it worked – it swam straight to me.

He also once spotted schools of barracudas, bumphead parrotfish and jack fish swimming past in succession.

“On top of that, we also got to see an adolescent whale shark which was about eight metres long,” he said, adding that “seeing something that big makes you feel really small and humble”.

Although he patiently waits for moments like these to happen, he said it was best to just enjoy the dive without expectations.

“Sometimes the ocean lets you win and sometimes you lose – that’s just how life is,” he said.

Scuba diving is an extreme sport, and hence scuba diving instructors have to be on top of their game at all times.

“It’s crucial to remain calm and composed, especially in the face of emergencies, which can be a challenge sometimes,” he admitted, before adding that one gets used to it with experience.

It’s also important to expect the unexpected before every dive.

“We need to have a contingency plan and always be two to three steps ahead, because things happen when you least expect it,” he said, adding that besides polishing-up his knowledge, he usually starts the day by analysing moon phases and tide charts.

He said it was extremely important that every one of his students become capable divers. “I have their lives in my hands, and even after the course, the authorities would look for me should anything happen to them in subsequent diving trips”.

He said while scuba diving is fun and safe, the risks are high. It is also important to respect marine environment.

Although divers seem to lead an enviable life, many do experience burn out eventually.

“I got into diving thinking I would be happy doing the job I love, but island fever is real – there is no social life, the internet connection is lousy, and you get bitten by mosquitoes and risk infections.”

However, diving is still his career of choice, especially after getting to know fellow divers and dive shop owners.

“Most of these people are genuinely happy, authentic, free-spirited, and they aren’t materialistic.There’s a sense of peace and acceptance in their approach to life despite whatever problems they may be having.”

He said that although he made some mistakes in his life, diving isn’t one of them.

“This is one of the things that I did get right; it’s where I belong.”

You can follow Aqhari’s underwater adventures on Instagram and keep up-to-date on Sea Bells’ coral conservation efforts on Instagram as well.