The ocean reflected the sun high in the sky while its waves tried to cover the sandbar. The nearest island was a small smudge on the horizon. The sandbar was only 10 yards long and width wasn’t very long but it was perfect for snorkeling. The water around the sandbar slowly got deeper until there was a huge drop-off with a reef below.
I breathed in the air, tasting the saltiness of it and listened to the cry of seagulls. This is perfect, I thought but one part of me kept on nagging, it would better if you weren’t afraid of snorkeling. Sighing, I thought to myself, whoa. Thanks for ruining the moment, Jazmyn.
“Jazz, help me tie up the boat! Your good-for-nothing brother just ran off.” My cousin, Skylar yelled.
“Sure.” I yelled back and ran over
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My cousin is a very pretty, black-haired twenty-two year old that has a great sense of humor, loves to go on adventures, and becomes friends with everyone. She had taken my brother, Ryan and I out snorkeling since my uncle rented a boat for the duration of the family trip.
Skylar and I finished tying the boat down when Ryan came out of nowhere decked out in snorkeling gear.
“Where were you?!” Skylar and I panted while collapsing on the sand. We had never tied a boat down until then, so it was incredibly hard and tiring.
“I said I was going snorkeling and if you need my help to come and get me.” He
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I used to be so good at it before… I took a deep breath and determinedly said “Okay, Ryan. Let’s do this thing.”
Skylar smiled and handed me my snorkeling gear. I quickly put on the goggles and flippers on and waddled to the water, but before I even reached the water my throat seized up and I had to back out. No! No! No! I thought as I tore off my goggles and flippers. I put my head in my arms and tried to control my breathing.
“Are you okay, Jazz?” Ryan and Ashlee worriedly asked as they shook my shoulders. I feebly nodded and said “You guys are terrible at seeing if someone is okay.”
They chuckled and Ryan asked, knowing that I would want to try again, “Come on. Let’s try this again.”
I smiled weakly at him and put my goggles back on. Skylar gave me an encouraging smile and put the flippers back in the boat. Ryan pulled me up and guided me into the water.
“Remember, Jazz. Stay calm and always breathe out hard so if any water gets into your tube it will get out. Just breathe.” Ryan counseled as we walked until the water was up to my shoulders.
I nodded and put the mouth piece in my mouth. I practiced breathing through the mouthpiece, then I went
I smiled to myself and decided that I would go join in. With that, I took a huge deep breath and jumped into the salty water. The water was cool and refreshing; I felt it slide through my hair making it sway in the water. I swam deeper and deeper into the deep blue water. Sunlight streamed through it, lighting up the water around me turning it to gold. I kicked harder and I felt my muscles surge with strength and I pushed further. My lunges began to burn for the need of oxygen, but I refused to go up. I repeatedly told myself just a little bit longer. Until I was unable to proceed anymore without more air in my lungs, I swam to the top of the water taking a huge breaths, filling my lungs with air. I could then taste the salty water as it ran down my face and dripped over my lips. Just then I thought, I will never forget this moment, this place, or the experiences I felt while visiting
Forty hands shot up pointing towards the bottom of the old twisty slide following the long dreadful whistle no one ever wants to hear. Two other lifeguards and I jumped up off the shaded break bench and rushed towards the scene with the heavy backboard and AED bag in hand. The routine save played like a movie through my head as I arrived. I stopped. I knew from there on out this wasn't going to be emotionally an easy save. It wasn't a child who swallowed too much water or an adult who got nervous because they forgot how to swim, it was a fellow lifeguard, a friend.
With tears of laughter in his eyes, Gwaine sauntered over to the cot. “Do you remember us helping you up here?” asked Gwaine, chortling.
There I stand on the Atlantic Ocean beach in Daytona, Florida. It’s 7:49 A.M, June 28, 2015. I feel my size ten feet sink into the frosty sand. With my board in my left arm, and sand covering my body, I seize my direction towards the blue ocean. As I halt at the base of the monumental ocean, I gaze in both directions, not a life in sight. I feel at peace, solitude, in my own meager world. As the crisp ocean mist wipes my sand replete face, I bounce into the ocean with my board under my body, cruising into the profound blue sea.
"Easy there, my friend." Percival set him down. "Wait for me to take off my cloak and tunic and drop my sword belt, then I'll acclimate you to the water slowly. Rushing in headfirst without a plan is never a good idea, in any circumstance."
The smell of the restaurants faded and the new, refreshing aroma of the sea salt in the air took over. The sun’s warmth on my skin and the constant breeze was a familiar feeling that I loved every single time we came to the beach. I remember the first time we came to the beach. I was only nine years old. The white sand amazed me because it looked like a wavy blanket of snow, but was misleading because it was scorching hot. The water shone green like an emerald, it was content. By this I mean that the waves were weak enough to stand through as they rushed over me. There was no sense of fear of being drug out to sea like a shipwrecked sailor. Knowing all this now I knew exactly how to approach the beach. Wear my sandals as long as I could and lay spread out my towel without hesitation. Then I’d jump in the water to coat myself in a moist protective layer before returning to my now slightly less hot towel. In the water it was a completely different world. While trying to avoid the occasional passing jellyfish, it was an experience of
We got there right after the sun’s peak time ended, so around 3pm, and my breath was taken away by it’s beauty. The sand is so soft, it feels like a fuzzy blanket on a cold fall day. When I walked on the beach I could faintly smell the of salt. As I would walk into the water, I could feel my skin tighten as the salt water would touch my skin. Then, as I got out of the water, I could taste the salt lingering on my lips.
Without delay, I sunk right back in the water. My doubts began coming back to me, making me realize I might of been over my head on this one, but I persisted. I reached surface again and began swimming towards the rightmost shore. It wasn’t the best journey, as I kept bobbing in and out of the water, but I managed to reach the shore. The moment I got stood back on my own feet I stood back on them as a new man; I enjoyed the danger I just experienced, besides drinking a hefty amount of lake
“I’d try a leech,” he retorted. “If that don’t work, we’ll put on a worm.”
I turned off the car and took a deep breath. Looking slowly up into the pink sky, I began to watch the golden sun go to sleep. The beach seemed deserted, quiet, but peaceful. I opened my door and put my feet out on the soft sand. I started taking my shoes off, then my socks. I threw them in the passenger seat, and then shut the door. I looked out over horizon of the lake and started walking towards the still water. With each step I took, I could feel the warm sand crunch between my toes. Then suddenly, a sharp rock, but not sharp enough to break the skin.
...e became more and more overcome with suspense and anticipation. Before we plunged to the bottom, we noticed a kayak broken in two pieces. It had been caused by a collision with a boulder, at the bottom of the fall. We were scared to death, because we thought we would hit it and flip over. However, with the help of our fast-thinking and skillful guide, we were able to make it down the fall safely. All the action was over, so we let out a sigh of relief and allowed our nerves to relax.
...ing my ears was the best thing that I could do when faced with my fear. This family vacation was a game changer, for the first time in my life I had to face my fears. I was tired of being the person that worried all the time. That moment the horn blew on the ship, it felt like it blew the craziness right out of me. I felt this release of negativity in my life and was this new positive person. It was the end of my old ways, and the beginning of a new life. When I look out on to the ocean I still have those butterflies in my stomach, but that dreading fear that I would die is gone. My life could now have the sea in it, where I could go snorkeling, watching movies, and evening going on smaller boats. I now have control of my emotions, the anxiety, and most of my entire attitude. I might still fear the ocean, but at least now I know how and can live with it in my life.
The smoke was choking me. I could see a faint outline of a face across the deck. It was Tom, my lifelong friend and companion. He was completely surrounded by the bright flames."Tom are you OK!!""Yeah, but the fire has me surrounded!""Tom jump overboard, hurry!""But....but....""Do it quick, hurry!"I hit the surprisingly cold water with a crash.
My cousins and I have always got a long and been friends our entire life. This would my first
My toes burrowed into the damp sand and I was relieved to realize that the water was warmer than I had expected. As I stood there and breathed in, deeply, the moist salty air, allowing my heart to fill with the vigor of the ocean and releasing the thoughts of the boy from my past with each exhale, a ball hit my feet and a man ran to get it as his friend yelled “you’re welcome!.” Were they trying to get my attention? I thought as I simply walked away avoiding eye contact with the man who collected the ball. I wandered along the water’s border allowing the water to cooly kiss my feet. the water hit my feet. I smiled as I looked at all of the young surfers attempting to catch the two foot waves. I amused myself by pondering what their future would look like and if I was witnessing the start of a surfing legend. I envied their potential, the years they would have to master their art to acquire their dreams, whatever they may be.