The Spiral Staircase

You open your eyes and find yourself inside a narrow circular tower, completely submerged in water. Before you as a spiral staircase heading downward, but it's upside down. To your left and right are rows of sandstone columns lying down the hall with twinkling lily pads on top. In the center of the room is a sandstone statue depicting a fluid like aquatic being covered in shimmering scales,. They're depicted as floating weightlessly with a fixed stare.