Snorkel Adventures

Have I shared that I love the water? Like, really, really love it? I nearly drowned when I was about two years old. My mother was surprised that I wasn’t afraid of the water after that.

I suppose that warrants a quick recap of that incident. My family had a pool in our backyard. They were having a party and all of the big kids and adults were in the deep end of the pool, including my father.

My mother was inside of the house changing my brother and happened to glance outside and see me in the pool with several people around me who were completely oblivious to my tiny body sinking to the bottom. She tells the story that she flew out of the window and into the pool in one swoop.

She brought me up, out of the pool and began performing CPR on me. Clearly I survived.

I wanted to jump back in. I enjoyed the water. I feel at peace there. I used to fantasize that I was a mermaid so I wouldn’t have to get out.

As an adult, I enjoy a pool, hot tub, or large body of water whenever I get the chance. One of the activities I’ve gotten to try over the past few years is snorkeling.

The first time was in Jamaica, with sharks. It was an incredible experience once I figured out how to actually use the snorkel. (Just in case you were wondering, I do not recommend diving under water more than about six inches, it’s hard to breathe as you suck water in through your snorkel.)

I was blessed enough to snorkel in Mexico along the Great Mayan Reef, which is the second largest barrier reef in the world. It’s also called the Mesoamerican Barrier Reef and runs along the coast of Mexico, Belize, Honduras, and Guatemala. I got to do that with my mom, stepfather, and my younger son, none of whom had gone snorkeling before.

My mom went with a guide to help her along. She didn’t figure out how to breathe until she basically got back to the shore, so she didn’t really get to experience all of the wonderful sights just a few feet under her.

I swam next to my son. He was nervous at first because he’s not a strong swimmer. We actually had to wear life jackets, so that wasn’t an issue; however, he was still a bit nervous. We got halfway out to the point where they turned us around when I looked over and started to watch him.

He was swimming along, just as happy as could be. But he wasn’t looking under the water. He never looked down. I asked him why he wasn’t looking under the water. He just shook his head, “no.”

He told me it kind of freaked him out and made him nervous. As any mother would, I encouraged him to try. As he looked down under the water, I watched from above the water line. I could hear him screaming through his snorkel tube in a weird, distorted way.

When he poked his head back up out of the water I managed to ask him what that was all about, in between my fits of laughter.

He was shaking his head, frantically, and explained that the sealife creeped him out. After I nearly exhausted myself with laughter, we managed to talk a bit and he relaxed.

My son and I both enjoyed watching the wondrous life beneath the sea for the rest of the adventure. Although he isn’t too keen on being in the water, he managed to enjoy the experience.

I got to enjoy the experience for myself, as well as enjoy watching him overcome a fear and actually take part in the journey. I can still hear the gurgling screaming coming out of the snorkel tube, which still makes me chuckle.

I am really looking forward to exploring more of the ocean and all of the beautiful creatures that call it home. Is there any ecosystem you would enjoy (or do enjoy) exploring and watching?