Temple Point

Just below the large statue of Ganesha in the northeastern corner of Menjangan is the dive site of Temple Point. As if in deference to the hive of human activity at the temple above, it is interesting to draw an analogy between Ganesha symbolism (chaturthi) and what lay below before us.

Prasada, or the offerings laid before Ganesha represents the whole world being at your feet for the asking. There you are, sailing through the landscape below, as amazing an experience as ever there was for a diver. His big head represents contemplating the big picture:

The small mouth is said to represent talking less. What can I say, that speaks for itself? Large ears reminds a diver to listen for instructions from the dive leader, that is, always stay in touch with reality. Small eyes implies concentration which comes naturally to a diver. The trunk represents high efficiency and adaptability, which is all about what technical diving is. The large stomach leaves a diver digesting all that is seen in a quiet peaceful manner. The single tusk represents throwing away all bad diving experiences and keeping only the good ones. The blessing suggested by the forward facing palm represents diving at its best, a blessed spiritual path to being a better person. The axe can be construed to be the act of cutting off all ties to the surface as you descend on each dive. The rope in diving terms could mean always trying to be a better diver. Let's not forget the tiny mouse. Controlling the desire to do something irrational is the path to any successful dive:

What happens below the surface of this site is not therefore all that different to what happens above it.