The Neptune Warrior

St. Patrick’s Breastplate is a Christian hymn attributed to St. Patrick. It’s a prayer for protection and strength, often associated with the Feast of St. Patrick. This was something I prayed when going through a very rough time starting in the fall of 2006. Below is my adaptation to scuba diving. I have broken this up into three separate prayer or mantra sections.

St. Patrick, born in Britain around 385 AD, was kidnapped by Irish raiders at the age of 16 and taken to Ireland as a slave. During captivity, he embraced Christianity. After six years, he escaped, returned home, and later felt a calling to bring Christianity to Ireland.

Ordained as a bishop, St. Patrick returned to Ireland around 432 AD, where he tirelessly preached and converted many. He’s associated with using the shamrock to explain the Holy Trinity. Legends credit him with banishing snakes from Ireland, although this is likely symbolic.

St. Patrick’s Day, observed on March 17th, commemorates his death. Over centuries, he became Ireland’s patron saint, celebrated worldwide, especially for his role in spreading Christianity in Ireland. He was not a scuba diver but imagine if in his immortality if he was:

I honestly did this for my own entertainment:

St Patrick’s Backplate

I bind unto myself today The sturdy tank and regulator, The wetsuit’s embrace, a second skin, The depths below, a mystic theater.

I bind unto myself the fins, Swift and sleek beneath the waves, The mask that reveals the secrets, Of the ocean’s hidden caves.

I bind unto myself the courage, To venture where few may roam, The buoyancy of spirit and gear, A diver’s hymn, a watery poem.

May the sea be my protector, As I explore its vast embrace, In the silence of the ocean, Find serenity and grace.

I bind unto myself today The strength of the ocean’s mighty sway, By the rhythm of the ebb and flow, The wonders hidden down below.

I bind unto myself the gear, Tank, regulator, crystal-clear, The wetsuit’s warmth, a shield so true, As I explore the ocean blue.

I bind unto myself the fins, A dance beneath where sunlight dims, The mask that grants a clearer view, To marvel at the underwater hue.

I bind unto myself the peace, As I dive where mysteries increase, In the silence of the watery space, I find serenity and grace.

I bind unto myself today, The comfort of a backplate’s embrace, With every breath and every dive, A tranquil journey in the depths I trace.

I bind unto myself the calm, In the solitude of the ocean’s balm, With backplate and harness snug and tight, I find serenity in the silent, deep blue light.

I bind unto myself the peace, As I explore where wonders never cease, In the stillness of the underwater space, My backplate carries me with quiet grace.

Hope you have enjoyed this short folly.