Snorkeling – (Kind of)

I have been fascinated by water for as long as I can remember. From the shimmer of light on the surface or rippling water to the bottom of the oceans. It’s amazing the life that lives in water. Aaaaaand Terrifying. 

If you have read any of the other posts, its possible you came across me talking about my fear of water. Well, this is where I started to embrace my fear.  I have quite a few things about me that I would love to change. The fact that I’m stuck in my head 90% of the time is definitely one of them. Being stuck in my head has impacted my ability to just enjoy the experience quite a few times. Snorkeling in the Ocean wasn’t an exception. 

Clearly – based on the pictures I was extremely excited to go snorkeling. Knowing full well that the ocean scares me. I put on all the gear, did my cheesy pictures and had fun with it…. Then… I jumped into the ocean… That Vast Blue Beautiful Water that holds so many mysteries.. and Fish!

Of Course there’s fish in there. What the hell was I expecting, right?

So – here I am, all geared up and I jump into the ocean. All is well.. I’m trying out my flippers and I stick my head under the water to test out the seal on the snorkel and goggles. All good! Some minor adjustments and trying to swim over to Don. (He got in after me).  Lets take a look at whats around me. 

Here I go looking around under water and  I see vast wide open spaces of crystal clear water…. and…. Fish.. 

My head immediately goes Fish = Life = Crazy ass shit in the ocean = My ass is gonna get ate by some random as shark/whale hybrid that will swallow me hole and leave everyone else in perfect condition. That Sting Ray I seen is gonna git me! GET ME THE FUCK OUT OF HERE!!……

Yes – Yes – ALL of that did go through my head in a matter of maybe 1/2 a second.  I quit swimming towards done and went back towards the boat. As calm as I could keep myself. (I’m pretty sure it wasn’t as calm as I was trying to present myself). The entire swim back to the boat ramp I was chanting to myself “Just keep swimming” Dory style with an internal mantra of ‘stay calm, you’re nuts’!

I finally get to the boat ramp, and slide myself up on it tearing up my leg a little bit as I go. Once I got up on the boat my leg was all bloody from the scrape I took. 

And THIS is where I decided to embrace my chicken shit and accept that – I might love water, but I dont want to be in it.