Fiji

I have been sick so it took a few days before we were able to go diving. I had forgotten both the beauty and terror of the endeavor. In that first few seconds beneath the water, my brain forgot that I was connected to a tank of air. All I knew was panic that I was drowning. It took an extra weight and a few minutes time to calm my panic before I could sink beneath the waves and remember what I liked about the sport.

There is a quiet tranquility beneath the water. When things work out well (ears pop and air is flowing) the clear expanse opens up before me into a wonderland of fish that pass inches from my fingertips. I had forgotten how much more vivid the colors were and how snug the clown fish looked snuggled in in their anemone. We saw the usual suspects: bright yellow butterfly fish, and pastel fish that eat coral. We also noted a few new things: purple starfish. Once I relaxed, it was great.