The Martini Effect

Several times a year, divers go missing trying to visit the underwater Megalithic complex in Yonaguni Island. Dr Nobuo Kimura, however, was unfazed by the risk: he has been diving these waters since the ancient structure was first discovered in the mid-eighties. He painstakingly mapped the pyramid-like monolith entirely from memory before any resistivity imaging scanner was even invented.

The only aspect of the submerged ruin left to discover was its deep subterranean chambers, below the foundation… Well, at least Dr Kimura was the only one in the scientific community who theorized that the Yonaguni ruins would have a deep cavern beneath the terraced slopes, similar to the architectural designs beneath the Khafre Pyramid, Teotihuacan, and Machu Picchu.

This expedition would then prove to the world his other outlier theory: from Egypt, Mesoamerica, to Asia, all ancient civilizations had the same ‘architect’. An underwater Ziggurat would certainly be one of a kind. Nobuo could hardly contain himself, returning to childlike naivety, romanticizing the possibilities…

“What else would be down there?”

The current by the underwater ruins was fast and unpredictable. Visibility was not the clearest, so it could easily become disorienting to the uninitiated. There was always an intimidating school of Scalloped Hammerhead sharks that lurked nearby, though they have rarely caused fatal attacks in Okinawa.

Only those with advanced PADI open-water/ GUE Cave-dive level 3 certifications, and 100+ logged dives were permitted to sign on to this expedition. The enthusiastic Tokyo University marine archaeologist was joined by a rival geologist from Boston University's ocean science department, who had openly discredited Kimura’s theory for decades. There would be a film crew from UNITWIN in charge of the submersible drones, as well as Shouta, who operated the SW Yonaguni dive company; he would help navigate the entire group safely.

The detailed briefing took place before boarding Shouta’s boat at the harbor and during the 20-minute approach to the dive site. The ocean was quite volatile that morning, but perhaps the real storm brewing was between Dr Kimura and the American scientist.

Each time the marine archaeologist referred to the Yonaguni ruins as a ‘Monolith’, Dr Milton, the skeptical geologist, would interject that it was a ‘naturally formed rock formation’. When Dr Kimura began connecting his theories to the lost continents of Mu and Atlantis, the interruptions escalated into mockery.

“Oh, please. The existence of Mu has no factual basis. It’s scientifically impossible that a continent would sink or vanish. You want this to be so real, but previous data have shown that it is not man-made… Doctor.”

Being openly ridiculed in front of his peers, Dr Kimura had the urge to throw the smug prick overboard, but that would be too easy. He wanted to see this expedition through and be beside the impertinent geologist down there when his theory proved accurate. Instead of taking the rage bait, the marine archeologist decided to lighten the mood with a sarcastic counter.

“Well, we won’t want to go down in history like that ‘certain scientist’ who repeatedly overlooked the Tiwanaku ruins, right in plain sight, which was later formally discovered by a pair of less experienced Bolivian and American archaeologists as the ‘lost’ Palaspata Temple… Eh? Doctor… Milton?”

Nobody but Dr Kimura laughed.

With the north winds pummeling those on board, the waves crashed violently on the boat's keel and hull, while the captain cut through the ocean at great speeds. It was a relief to everyone when Shouta indicated that they had arrived at the monument under the sea.

Finally…

After a meticulous final check of gear and quick-release procedures, Shouta reviewed the dive site layout, entry, egress, and potential hazard points. All divers then confirmed they understood the emergency action plan.

As the boat swayed from the tumultuous waves, Shouta and the other divers put on their fins, masks, and inflated their BCDs, while wobbling around like a bunch of helpless bobbleheads on a car dashboard. Once ready, the dive leader instructed others to enter the ocean via back-roll.

Six divers in open water activated their DPV scooters and began their descent. The choppy water swallowed the aquatic explorers, leaving boiling bubbles in their wake. The UNITWIN crew had their submersible drone shadow the swimmers from behind…

Winter was not the most ideal time to dive, but the benefits were fewer typhoons, no tour boats to contend with, and a lower risk of encountering a swarm of Box jellyfish. Another plus was the mass gathering of migrating Hammerheads, which drifted gracefully to their next destination just before the giant monolith became visible. It was always a breathtaking sight.

The current intensified as the team mindfully approached the ancient ruin at the arch gateway to the main terrace. Without the DPVs, the currents would have been impossible to swim against, but through the treacherous waters, the team began to get a glimpse of distinct carvings and patterns in the massive rock formation. After ascending the giant stairway and reaching the top terrace, the expedition party control-drifted past the straight canyons. Dr Milton noticed that up close, there were unmistakable signs of instrument-cut curves and lines that were not naturally possible.

Those 'canyons' were actually constructed walls.

Not only the walls… There was also evidence of a seamlessly carved drainage system, a well, holes for pillars, and a carved face reminiscent of Easter Island’s Moai. Though his grin wasn’t visible with the regulator in his mouth, Dr Kimura was in glee as he could sense his rival's astonishment and second thoughts on previous assumptions. He decided to give the scuba hand signal to ‘write this all down’- with his left palm open and his right index finger sarcastically scribbling notes. The American geologist was irritated, but he had no time to backpedal his ego due to what came next…

Further down a corridor, there was a rock carving of a massive sea turtle. Below the turtle’s head, the team discovered a different rock embedded into a rectangular space that seemed as if it were deliberately placed. UNITWIN’s drone propelled forward with the laser scanner, which began to give images beyond the naked eye. After a brief survey, it confirmed Dr Kimura’s hunch about a passageway behind that blocked rock.

The research crew worked together to drill and successfully inserted a low-impact Cardox vibratory tube in the obstructing rock. They all drifted behind the retaining wall, and when the coast was clear, they activated the Cardox that disintegrated the stone door. The shattered pieces crumbled into a gaping abyss.

Once the dust had settled, the mission team assessed their gas supply, synchronized their dive navigation systems, and activated their sonar track beacon. The passage was too narrow for their DPVs, so the explorers had the UNITWIN’s drone enter the uncharted cave to spearhead the way, while also providing a guideline reel for the three divers. The remaining divers would stay outside of the turtle carving in a supportive role for the two professors and Shouta, just in case.

With the helmet lights on, Shouta, Milton, and Kimura entered one after another. The underwater Ziggurat’s vast cavern seemed to go on endlessly. The depth and interior design far surpassed any of the known monoliths above ground.

While the two scientists were completely mesmerized, Shouta gave the hand signal for a brief safety stop by a narrow passage and reminded them about the rule of thirds: 1/3 of air for inbound, 1/3 for the exit, and the last 1/3 for emergencies. The dive leader pointed at his LED dive computer screen, indicating 140 bars.

As Shouta began communicating to the two scientists how much time they all had before needing to decompress and head up, the guideline reel suddenly twirled violently, and the submersible drone began to corkscrew. A subaqueous vortex yanked and tumbled everyone downwards. Visibility was nonexistent, and the masks and fins were threatened to be ripped off. Gauges snagged and entangled on the cave walls…

“Where the hell is everybody?”

Disoriented and battered, Dr Milton looked around the narrow passageway for his teammates, who were nowhere to be found. The dive navigation system was offline, and his helmet light flickered unreliably. It must all have been damaged by that vortex. The American attempted to get his secondary torch from his left pouch but winced in pain. Something about his wrist and elbow didn’t feel right. One of his dive fins came off as well. He was freezing. The walls of stone around him amplified his sense of abandonment. The injured geologist looked for a reason, but all he could grasp onto was blame. His bloodstream began to simmer in rage.

“They left me. They want to claim the discovery for themselves… Those bastards!”- Milton clenched his jaw, biting the mouthpiece on his regulator vengefully…

In another part of the subterranean underworld, Shouta regained consciousness and immediately checked his dive computer for depth and gas consumption. It was not good news. He sank deeper than anticipated, and Shouta’s training taught him full well that he didn’t have enough oxygen or time to properly decompress before ascending back to his boat. In an overhead environment and at such a depth, running out of air and Nitrogen Narcosis would be fatal.

But, where was the guideline reel?

Which way was the way up?

Fear began to set in.

“I have got to get out of here-”, Shouta helplessly murmured...

Dr Kimura was unable to see, but he knew that he was drifting in some sort of stream. He wanted to resist the pull and swim away, but he had no energy. He was in and out of consciousness until he heard an unfamiliar voice greeting him.

“நின்று கொண்டு இரு உன்னை.அமைதி…நீ சரி?”

Wha...Is... Is that… Tamiḻakam? Nobuo’s ears perked up to the ancient language he had rarely heard of in real life. He has only familiarized it in his earlier years while studying stone carvings at Anaikoddai, as a student of Archaeology. Kimura jerked upright and surveyed his surroundings. The stone walls were cut as cleanly with modern tools, except with more warmth to it all, as if everything was… Alive.

The lost voyager noticed that he was lying in a warm herbal bath. As his eyes adjusted to his surroundings, Dr Kimura realized that he was in some sort of open-air healing room within a megalithic structure. He did not see land, and the color of the surrounding ocean was different; this Island was not in Okinawa at all.

“Where am I?”

“What happened to the others?”

Before he even got an answer, his attention went to a combination of Carthage Tophet, Punic inscriptions, old Tamil, and epigraphs from Roman times carved on the stone walls. As he stared and studied them, the carvings faded into the walls, and new sets of writings from other civilizations formed in their place... All without making a sound.

“How in the?... Wha… What year is this, exactly?”

An unfamiliar figure with a grounded, gentle demeanor smiled at the inquisitive patient, and after Kimura was calm, she responded in a tranquil tone.

“From your world, we would be in an equivalent location near the Azorean archipelago. As for when, we do not adhere to Time here.”

The marine archeologist was both terrified and ecstatic at the same time. He was either in a nitrogen narcosis-induced fever dream, or his theory about Mu, Atlantis, and all of the lost civilizations being connected was true!

“As for others, you are the only one who has come to our side. The others did not believe enough or were committed enough as you are.”

Although flattered, Dr Kimura was still not convinced. He chose his next set of questions carefully.

“So… Am I a prisoner here?”

“Am I… Dead?”

“Is this all a dream?”

The caretaker bellowed a good-natured laugh that tickled the stone walls and softly responded,” You are very much alive, and you are not a prisoner here. However, if you do go back to your realm… I am afraid the limitations of time, pressure, and the air you breathe would minimize your chances of survival. The choice is yours. You have free will…”

Above deck on Shota’s boat, the UNITWIN’s submersible drone immediately activated the distress signal of the last known location of the expedition divers. The three divers who were on standby transitioned to rescue mode into the dark abyss along with spare Heliox gas for the survivors, if any.

The rescue divers eventually found two survivors who had to be restrained while being decompressed due to the Martini effect, which brought out dissociative and combative demeanor. Unfortunately, as the weather conditions worsened, the search and rescue mission had to be postponed for the remaining person. A few days later, and weeks and months after that, there were countless recovery operations that took place…

Unfortunately, there has been yet another diver who went missing this winter, in search of the Yonaguni ruins.

The search continues…