So I started my scuba certification at Ocean Explorers in Simpson Bay, Sint Maarten. This group was fantastic. I felt that I truly belonged with them, and they shared my love of ocean life, as they should.
We went on four dives total and I told them every morning we should go where the sharks are. Although some other divers disagreed, I finally got my way on the last two dives. Aboard the boat, we drove a few miles south to a sunken bridge. This was the old bridge in the lagoon that was replaced, so it became an artificial reef for the fish. Here we found a baby nurse shark under part of the structure. Even though one instructor ensured the group that sharks don't come to this spot, I was full of glee when he found me during the dive and made the shark fin symbol. I quickly (yet slowly) swam after him to the spot of the nurse shark.
On the last dive, we went to a shipwreck a few miles off of the coast. After gaining the confidence of my instructors (they said I was a natural), I was the first one in the water descending 70 ft. As I gripped the rope and started acclimatizing so that my ears wouldn't burst, two reef sharks started circling me.
Most people would get a bit nervous. Being the only one in the water, haven dived four times in my life, with two sharks circling.
It was a dream come true. We were peas in a pod. Both so curious about each other. When I finally reached the 70ft bottom, one got so close I thought he was going to bump me. I, of course, reached out to greet him, but he quickly swam off. We were not on that level yet. I was then scolded by my instructor for trying to touch marine life. (I did my underwater head nod/shoulder shrug apology, but come on, I would have done it again).
I do not have photos from the shipwreck, as it was too deep to take my camera down. But the dives pictured above were around 40ft. And even though it was July in the Caribbean, we were cold and translucent.
