As it turned out, our best snorkeling took place on the last day. We packed and cleaned out our room at the Backpacker’s Hotel. Then we headed for the beach at 7:30. The air was still chilly, but this offered us the best conditions for entering the waters which appeared to be warm. So we donned our fins, our masks, and our snorkeling tubes. Elena suggested that we wait for the air to warm up further, but I urged her to enter the clear, calm waters straight away. And this she did.
This was our 12th swim together. On our earlier swims, I invariably lost sight of Elena and ended up snorkeling alone. This happened because I would get attached to watching the movements of some fish and, in the process, I would lose sight of Elena. When I did find her by raising my head above the waterline, she would be 10 to 15 meters away. Then I would expend all my energy in catching up with her. Not for long, however, since the moment I followed a school of fish, Elena would be moving off in her own direction, and I would lose her again.
So, beginning with out 10th swim, Elena began holding my hand as we moved forward together. This was very satisfying. Now we could share the same experience, and I didn’t have to divide my attention between watching the underwater wonders and watching Elena.
Here is what we discovered together holding hands:
#1 A giant oyster with its shell open revealing its blue interior:
Elena pointed it out to me and then swam down to touch it. Before she got within one meter of the oyster, it had already closed its shell. How did it know to do this? Did it detect that Elena was too big a fish for its appetite? Had she been a smaller fish, would the oyster open its shell even further in order to let her in?
#2 A minute later, we spotted a giant sea turtle a meter in length:
This calm beauty swam with supreme grace propelling itself effortlessly through the water using its forward fins for speed and its back fins for steering. This turtle followed the contours of the corals keeping its belly 20 cm. above them at all times.
We followed this marvelous swimmer for five minutes. We were able to keep up using our own fins. The turtle didn’t seem bothered; rather, I would imagine that she was pleased to find us watching her every move.
I find myself remember these extraordinary discoveries while holding hands with my Beloved. In the evening when I am just ready to fall asleep, I often continue my swim with the sea turtle and my Beloved. Life is good. . . .
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#5 Best snorkeling
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