Snorkeling around Green Island, Taiwan

One set of differences in cultures is what they fear and what they don't. Japaneses will gladly eat fugu (pufferfish) that could kill them but fearful of foreigners. Germans will be happy to get comatose drunk but fear slipping back into militarism. Californians (not a nationality but still pretty distinct) will do all kind of extreme sports but fear being in the wrong school districts.

Taiwaneses will happily speed at 80 km/h on an old decrepit scooter without an helmet but fear water. This is especially strange for a people living on an island, but Min Lin says learning to swim was never much of a priority when they were children. This explains why Taiwaneses visiting the island have so easily assimilated the fear that swimming alone means you could be dragged by underwater currents all the way to Okinawa...

Instead of educating people, having people sign non-responsibility releases or doing proper management of areas to ensure people swim safely, Taiwan decided instead that you needed a certified instructor to hold your hand. It is just coincidence that it also keeps the local snorkeling businesses going too...

So it is all decked out with a swimsuit, a lifejacket and holding to one of 8 lifesavers strung together in a group of 25 other persons that I lived my first snorkeling experience on Green Island. Not only did I feel ridiculous and insulted, but the sense of adventure and discovery is gone. The experience is as artificial as floating on top of an aquarium.

Yes, of course, the fishes are colorful, varied and bountiful. They've gotten into the habit of eating all the bread that tourism gives them so they gather in the area.

This creates a Disney like experience and a crowd pleaser that will make the experience very enjoyable for first timers.... But I can't seem to get out that the freedom, romance and sense of wonder is missing compared to our experiences on the French Riviera. I'm also wondering how long this will last with hundreds of tourism stepping awkwardly on coral - it seems that the instructors responsibilities don't include educating people to protect the wildlife, although it is forbidden to take anything away (60K NT$).

Just make sure that if you want that freedom you bring some kind of internationally recognized certification...