Toucari and Douglas Bays

I went snorkeling the other day.  

That's a short statement, which may lead you to believe that it was a simple endeavor.  It was not.  You may or may not know that, despite my usual attitude of bravado and pomposity, I am a bit of a Nervous Nelly, especially when it comes to putting my face in water (maybe it's connected to all those times I almost drowned).  I signed up to go on a trip with people I didn't know, planning to try something I was pretty scared to do.  That is what I am going to blame my grumpiness that morning on (now see, this preposition at the end of the sentence feels really awkward, but I feel incapable of finding any other way to say it).

When we got to Toucari Bay, it was really pretty (is it bad that I already feel like I'm running out of ways to describe the exquisite views here?  I took some pictures, because I don't know the thousand words to convey my awe.).

Then I apprehensively put on my snorkel mask and practiced breathing through a tube.  Easy, breezy.  Then I put my face in the water to test the seal of my mask.  Let's be honest, I didn't breathe, but didn't think about it.  However, I could see all kinds of incredible things.  The water was clear enough that I had had some serious doubts about the benefit of putting my face six inches under water so I could see things better.  I could see JUST FINE from up above.  Except that I couldn't.  It was wildly better underneath.  So I dove forward and started swimming.

What happened next happened every time I started swimming in the water with my eyes open.  I started to hyperventilate a little because my brain told me I was going to drown.  With the awesome amplification that water provides, I could hear my labored breathing quite clearly and was glad I was on my own so I didn't have to be doubly mortified at my own ridiculousness.  I was able to calm my breathing down to a slow, steady rhythm just by mentally telling myself that it needed to happen.  Turns out I learned some important skills from dealing with my claustrophobia and all those MRIs and radiation.  Who would've ever thought it would help me snorkel?  Well, help me it did.

My new friend, Gabe (also new to snorkeling), put it succinctly:  "Wow.  These are fish I've only ever seen before in aquariums!"  That was exactly it.  Pretty incredible.  I'm going to have to go again.  And again.  And then probably again.  And someday buy an underwater camera so I can take pictures of all the cool stuff Dominica has to offer.  Looking under the sea offers twice the fun.

Douglas Bay was also incredibly beautiful and similarly fun to snorkel in.

 

These are the mountains/hills whose other side I look at every day.  It's all about perspective.

 

New friends from my snorkeling adventure. 

Gratuitous shot of the butterfly/moth who seemed to think my flip-flop was a flower.

I'm going to need to sail around this island before I leave.  Doesn't this look fun?

Conclusion:  Sometimes it's worth a little grumpiness if that is what it takes to get me to try new things.