Today my parents, EQ and I spent part of the day snorkelling in the waters around Nassau. Only a three hour tour (no joke!) as our day in Nassau was a short one. That didn't stop us from enjoying a cooler, partially cloudy day in the water surrounded by many, many, brightly coloured fish of all shapes and sizes.
Me - I was chilled on the boat ride out to the reef. Absurd. I know! That said, it wasn't as warm as it had been in days past, the sun wasn't hot on our faces because of the coming and going clouds and I was a touch tired and drained feeling this morning. All a good combination to create a slight chilled feeling.
That chill was not going to stop me from snorkelling today. No way, no how. I was ready for the promised 60 minutes in the water and come hell or high water I was going to enjoy every single second in the water.
I was not disappointed! It was incredible. I honestly wish I could share a snippet of my video with you, but I haven't had a chance to process the videos I took just yet. But boy, oh boy did I have fun! I chased schools of fish. I dove and was up close and personal with different corals in the reef. For awhile, I simply floated in the waves and watched the marine life do their thing below me.
And I had goosebumps the entire time. Yes. That's right, as soon as I hit the water my body exploded into goosebumps. I ignored them. And I was good for about 45 minutes at which point I admitted to EQ that I was cold. He nearly convinced me to get out at that point. Instead, we swam off and enjoyed the reef for another 10 minutes or so.
And then I was really, truly cold through to my bones. My teeth chattered as I swam. I found EQ, and told him it was time, that I needed to get out of the water. We weren't the last to board the boat (darn it all!), but we certainly weren't the first either.
My chattering teeth were with me the entire boat ride home. I was curled up in EQ's arms, in the partial sun/cloud, covered up in two dry (now damp) towels and shivering. I couldn't help but laugh.
I used to do that as a kid all the time. Swim until my teeth started to chatter. I haven't been like that in years. It felt good. I felt alive. And I've made myself a promise. In the next two years, I'm going to learn how to scuba. It's been on my list of things to learn for some time and after the past two snorkelling trips, I'm inspired. It's time to shuffle that up closer to the top of my "to do" list!
Moments ignoring body discomfort and focusing on the joy of nature.
Moments that take you back in time to relive younger days.
