Snorkeling!

SNORKELING. IS. AWESOME. PERIOD.

The boat ride was great; wind blowing in my hair, some fun waves splashing onto the boat, bobbing up and down in the movement of the vast ocean. What a view! I was terrified, to be sure, when we stopped and I had to swim. I don't feel like I'm an especially strong swimmer so jumping into the ocean blue was a little daunting.

I was the last one off the boat, but the first one to the coral reef. How does that happen? Fear. Hahaha Ugh I wanted to leave so badly when we got to the reef! I drank so much salt water jumping off the boat, fumbling with my snorkeling gear and actually swimming that my tummy didn't feel very well, so I didn't pay much attention to the show-and-tell our guides were giving. I felt inadequate with only my flippers on as well, since I made th water cloudy when I moved, and of course it was extremely awkward to even walk in those things. Adding to this are my corporal insecurities; I honestly don't own a swimsuit.

But once we actually started snorkeling I kind of got over my inhibitions. The waves were still a little strong and I had to continually readjust my snorkeling mask because it would get cloudy and fill with water, even when I spit into it and adjusted the straps. Sometimes I would start to breathe in the water, and had to come up to readjust again. I was with Alison and one of the guides at first, but I lost them for a bit so I just went on on my own, and I think it was then that I got a little better. I don't know, I'm the kind of person that needs to do things on her own and get the hang of it, because I feel very self conscious when I'm attempting something but I know I'm not doing it right. I need to master it myself and then do I feel comfortable with others.

But anyway, the point is that I got the hang of it. I made the funniest drawings of an almost translucent fish with yellow patches on its topside and fins, some observations on the corals and sponges, but not much else. I was also scared to dive down so I couldn't always get a good look at the organisms.

Identifying all the animals was interesting as well; I definitely commend Ariel for her knowledge of marine organisms and the excitement she put into the process. It was like an auction! "_____fish! Alright everyone look for it. Is that what you saw? Yes? Ok, one down!" I wonder what the bioblitz is like in Central Park. Man, so may things I haven't heard about in NY.