Under the Sea

As long as I can remember, I’ve had this odd fascination with Hawaii and the ocean.  Although I’d visited the beach when I was young, I’d never really swam in the ocean, never dove down into the waves like I’d dreamed of doing since seeing Lilo at the beginning of Lilo and Stitch diving down to deliver Pudge the fish a sandwich.  About five years ago I finally got my chance for the first time to really swim in the ocean.

            When I was in middle school, my family and I went on an unbelievable vacation to Hawaii that I will never forget.  It was a great trip for numerous reasons: the breathtaking scenery, the thrilling “Road to Hana,” navigating the cliffs of Maui from our Jeep, the unusual luau food, and the abundance of humpback whales that jumped from the water everywhere we looked across the Pacific.  But this trip is forever etched in my memories because it was the first time I ever snorkeled, the most fun to this day that I have ever had in the water.

            At first I was terrified to jump into the open water, having seen Shark Week one too many times.  But thankfully that first day of snorkeling in Hawaii was incredible, making me forget all of my initial fears.  We went to Molokini Crater and it was perfect.  After a whole day under water snorkeling became my favorite activity; we’d dove down with hundreds of colorful fish, a friendly (but still pretty creepy to see) five-foot reef shark, and an abundance of giant sea turtles that looked like they belonged in Finding Nemo when we visited Maui’s so-called Turtle Town.  Though I’d never been much of a swimmer or water-lover, I immediately feel at home in the ocean.  To this day snorkeling is my favorite thing to do on a vacation; I’ve snorkeled every chance I’ve gotten since that trip.  I’m so thankful for that first trip that pushed me out of my comfort zone and helped me find an activity that I love so much.