WANT to slip below the water’s sur-face? To stretch your arms out and swoop down to the reef like a bird, with the water rushing past you? With summer here, there’s no time better than now to start diving.

Here we have good news for you. If you are living in Shenzhen, you don’t need to travel all the way to Phuket or the Maldives, because right here in Shenzhen there are several diving spots just waiting for you to discover.

Luzui in Yangmeikeng 杨梅坑鹿咀

Luzui in Yangmeikeng is one of the most beautiful places in Shenzhen. “The Mermaid” directed by Stephen Chow was even fi lmed here. The crystal-clear water is so clear that you can count the stones resting on the seafl oor.

travel x 15CONTACT US AT: 8351-9409, YWENNSONG@HOTMAIL..COM

Monday July 31, 2017

TEMPLE TALES

The fi ve monks listen to the Buddha’s teaching in a bas relief at Longchang Temple, Zhenji-ang, Jiangsu. James Baquet

James Baquetjamesbaquet@gmail.com

WHEN Prince Gautama, the Buddha-to-be, left home to seek enlightenment, the forests of northern India were fi lled with religious seekers, and with teachers ready to share their wisdom. The young ascetic studied with two such teachers — Alara Kalama and Uddaka — and soon equaled each in his understanding.

Disappointed that he could not learn more, he decided to struggle on alone.

In the forest, he allied himself with fi ve other seekers, named in one tra-

dition Kondanna, Bhaddiya, Vappa, Mahanama and Assaji. They, also, had left lives of luxury to become ascetics.

It seemed almost as if a sort of competition developed to see who could endure the most austere prac-tices. Young Gautama’s fasting was so severe that at last he looked like a living skeleton. Despite his hunger, he continued to meditate.

At last it was too much. He realized that these practices were not working, and he hit upon what has since been called “the Middle Way,” neither too indulgent nor too strict. When his friends saw him eating again, they

abandoned him as being too soft.When at last he achieved enlight-

enment, he endeavored to teach. He went to Benares and arrived in the Deer Park at Sarnath, where his friends were dwelling. At fi rst they avoided him, calling him a “good-for-nothing.” But as he came nearer they noticed a change in him. He seemed noble, majestic even.

They immediately attended to him, and he taught them what he had learned, in a talk now called “The Turning of the Wheel of Dharma.”

And thus his fi ve friends from the forest became the fi rst fi ve Buddhist monks.

The fi rst fi ve monks

Hidden gems for diving in SZ

The turquoise blue waters here are sure to lure you right in. Take your fi rst breaths underwater, look down and you may nearly lose your regula-tor out of awe. A rainbow of soft corals awaits you to swim among them.Add: Reef area, Yangmeikeng, Nan’ao Subdis-trict, Dapeng New Area 大鹏新区南澳镇杨梅坑海底礁石区Transportation: Take Bus E11 from downtown Shenzhen to Nao’ao Subdistrict Offi ce, then transfer to Bus M274 and get off at Nan’ao Yangmeikeng.

Guiwan Bay, Dapeng Peninsula 大鹏鬼湾

Many people might freak out when they fi rst hear the name of this place, Guiwan Bay, which literally means Ghost Bay. But, that’s just it, a name. In fact, it is a gorgeous diving location. Guiwan Bay is seldomly disturbed by people, thus there is a rich variety of marine life such as sea anemones and starfi sh. The underwater garden here will defi nitely dazzle your eyes and make you aware of the vastness and power of the ocean.Add: The water area between Dahengzhou and Xiaohengzhou, near Sanmen Island, south to Dapeng Peninsula 大鹏半岛以南三门岛附近大小横洲之间的水域Transportation: Take Bus E11 from downtown Shenzhen to Nan’ao Subdistrict Offi ce, and then transfer to Bus M232 to Xichong Beach, before taking a boat to Guiwan Bay.

Qingren Island in Xichong 西冲情人岛

Xichong Qingren Island, or Island for Lovers, is the defi nition of “romance.” Submerged like a cork in the sea, it’s like entering a crystal wonderland teeming with all kinds of colorful creatures.

As the island boasts the largest number of clown fi sh in Shenzhen, one may even spot the leading char-acter of “Finding Nemo” there. Bring your date here and leave with some amazing memories. Or, propose to your girlfriend here. Let the sea wit-ness the love and romance between you two.Add: Xianrenzhang Beach, Xichong, Nan’ao Subdistrict, Dapeng New Area 大鹏新区南澳镇西涌2号浴场仙人掌沙滩Transportation: Take Bus E11 from downtown Shenzhen to Nan’ao Subdistrict Offi ce, then transfer to Bus M232 to Xichong Beach, before taking a boat to the Qingren Island.

(Chen Xiaochun)A view of Luzui in Yangmeikeng.

A diver in Guiwan Bay in Dapeng.

Underwater marine life in waters around Shenzhen. File photos