Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea: Part 1, Chapter 16 Summary & Analysis

Arronax explains to Ned—who balks at the prospect of wearing the suits Nemo has laid out for them—that “the forests of the island of Crespo” are actually deep in the ocean. The outfits are made from rubber, and almost resemble suits of armor. After overcoming his initial hesitation, Ned joins Arronax and Conseil in putting on his suit. To Arronax’s embarrassment, he struggles to walk inside the outfit. Arronax admits that it is hard to describe the wonder and freedom that accompanied swimming through the ocean in Nemo’s special gear.

Arronax wishes he could communicate with Conseil about the wonders before them, but because their submersion in the water prevents this, he talks to himself instead. Nemo leads the way, indicating where the men should go. After about an hour and a half away from the Nautilus, the men begin journeying down a slope, going ever deeper into the ocean. They keep walking until an “obscure mass” appears in the distance. Arronax realizes that this is the forest of Crespo.