Among seafarers, there are those we call Shellbacks who have been formally indoctrinated into the Solomn Mysteries of the Ancient Order of the Deep.
Picture an aircraft carrier, such as the vessel I was on at the time, the ultimate expression of a countries naval power, costing billions of dollars to run and carrying billions of dollars of aircraft, stopping for the day and ceasing military operations to perform these ancient ceremonies.
The naval tradition is simply crossing the Equator while at sea, and the Shellbacks among the crew are in charge with, in my case, thousands of terrified Polywogs about to become men.
Aye, and there are things about which we do not speak.
Among the Shellbacks are those who have been granted the secret knowledge into the ways of Man in the hallowed city of Olongapo and whom are revered by common seaman and landlubber alike in tales of Legend.