A Day At Sea

The winds seemed to be picking up on our way to the marina.  A worried look on my husband’s face.  Choppy waters would spoil our plans.  Fortunately, with no substantial white caps in sight we loaded the boat and headed out.  As we pulled away from the main island, over a dozen smaller islands occupied the view.  Our destination straight-ahead; depending on the waters we should arrive in about forty minutes.  Each group of islands passed was replaced with endless others.  Varying sizes, some grouped, some standing alone in the beautifully pristine waters.  Sun blazing and a steady cool breeze.  I leaned back; I closed my eyes, my son’s head on my chest.  A cold mist of salty overspray every now and then kept me awake, despite the sun’s relaxing warmth.  We slowed to a stop near a small sandbar.  Without hesitation my husband leapt off the boat.  Splash!  “Grab my snorkel.”   Next in the water, my daughter.  Excitement was overcoming me.  Genuine excitement that kind that doesn’t come along as often as it used to.  I couldn’t get my mask on fast enough.  I put my face under the water.  Silence.  The world I was in seconds ago vanished and was replaced by another.  Hundreds of fish.  So close I was sure I could catch one with my hands.  I dove a little deeper, the ocean filling my snorkel.  I shot up, coughing at the surface.  I hurried back.  Neon blues, yellows and purples dart around me.  Pure exhilaration.  I try to calm my breathing.  A section of the reef breaks out from under me. Hanging over a small crevasse, a strange sensation came over me.  I almost felt a little scared looking into the depths below.  Adrenaline maybe.  Fantastically striped fish, florescent colors, sea anemone, starfish; there was an entire world before me.  A life-sized salt-water aquarium.  I popped up to check on the kids.  I tried to convince my daughter to try the mask.  Desperately wanting to share that moment with her.  She refused and proceeded to enthusiastically explain that she could now swim, unaware of the help from her life-jacket.  I escaped back into the realm below.  I didn’t want it to end.  So many things I thought I would never see were right before my eyes.  I bobbed at the surface.  “What do you think?”  My husband says with a smile on his face.  My words didn’t seem adequate.  Everyone returned to the boat.  As we pressed on I looked out at the water feeling almost drugged.  That was terrific.  Shallow waters as we approached the island, the boat slowed.  We were unsure we would make it through.  Finally docked the view is gorgeous.  The nearby waters littered with boats.  Our trip was short; the island was closed to the public due to renovations.  Fuel tanks full, we head out again.  Our next stop isn’t far.  Our friends point out the island where the movie Castaway was filmed.  Skin raging red, clearly not enough sunscreen.  Hungry and exhausted from the sun we tie off the boat and hitch a ride in from one owned by the island resort.  White beaches, blues waters, palm trees.  Wooden stairs lead us to the restaurant.  We enjoyed a meal and some laughter and decided to head back before sunset.  I watch the sky as we make our way back to the main island.  Jets coming in for a landing at the airport.  A bright full moon hung above us.  Unfamiliar cloud formations seemed to hang just above the water and erupt into the sky.  Oranges, pinks and yellows took over right before dark.  We docked after seven hours at sea and our amazing day filled with color and experiences finally came to an end.