snorkeling

The second day we went snorkeling. At least, I did. Shannon sat in the shade, reading a book on the kunas and answering questions by our fellow travelers. I had never snorkeled before. someone told me the basics and hey presto, it worked. I am sure it was not the best of reefs, but to me it was gorgeous. It became a game of hide and seek, looking for new wonders. Stingrays, 2’ sea cucumbers, and various fish I recognized from tropical fish tanks. I found several kinds of coral, but can only name the brain coral. I decided at one point to dive a bit deeper, but quickly decided against it. I am not used to clear water and had misgauged the depth of my ambition. Water is heavy. Eventually I summoned the courage necessary to glide about 1 foot above the coral. If you looked parallel with the water surface, silver fish swam only at that level – about 10 inches long, looking a bit like kitchen knives swimming backwards, but with tubular noses. Odd looking creatures. Actually, they all looked odd to my eyes. Fish should be varying shades of blue and gray and well, “fish” shaped. I think I saw giant sea urchins. Whatever those spiky rounds balls are – sea porcupines. Anyways, I saw the long sharp tines poking out of holes in the coral. Looking around, I wonder if dr. sues ever travelled to the tropics. His books and parts of Lewis’ paralandra are the main things which have helped me give reference to the nature around me.

After the snorkeling, I took a walk around the island – a dif one than the resort island. Palm trees, palm trees, waves, flowers, garbage. Mounds of garbage piled by the waves on the other side of the island. That is where I found the fridge. White Styrofoam and browned plastic dominate the eastern beaches. Sad. As we returned to the boat, Shannon started picking up the few bits of garbage on the way to the boat. I didn’t have the heart to tell her about the other side of the island. There are few docks and none on that island, so Shannon actually allowed one of the young men to pick her up and place her in the boat. She does not weigh much at all.