The day started off with a nice relaxing but slightly bumpy boat-ride to the island. The waves were slow, bringing us up and down as the boat gradually made its way to the dock. The weather was slightly cloudy but mostly sunny – it was the perfect day to go swimming. All my family and friends were overflowing with excitement when the boat finally came to a stop at the beach. As soon as we got off the boat, we could already smell the salty, tangy air. The water was very clear with small hues of blue and aqua. There was a gentle breeze blowing beside my ears and a relaxing sound of the trees swaying. We were definitely ready for a great day.
After getting our tickets checked and some quick pictures taken, we all headed to one of the smaller docks which had the glassbottom boats. These boats were really special because you are able to see the sealife below through the glass floor. Even before the boat left the shore, we could already see hundreds of tiny little fish roaming around. Finally, after a bit of an introduction and safety tips from the boat driver, we set out to sea again.
We went by coral homes and sandy burrows as the boat travelled deeper into the reef. We saw many sea animals like starfishes, stingrays, crabs and weird looking creatures. The water was very deep and yet we were still able to see the bottom. When we reached the furthest the boat could go, everyone on the boat silently took in all the beauties and wonders the reef had revealed. I was so amazed by how the fish and stingrays swam together. It was like the perfect peaceful ecosystem. After around ten minutes of sea wonders, the boat slowly made its way back to shore leaving the rest of the day for exploring.
Once we arrived back on the island, we figured we should have early lunch before the mini cafes got too busy. As we headed our way deep into the island’s small forest, I was able to spot small lizards, birds, and even insects hiding from the burning sun. It was so hot that it felt like I was cooking in an oven! Luckily, the eating court had fans blasting from every corner of the room. We ordered fish n chips and a few soft drinks. I was so glad we came early because as we were eating, the cafes and food courts instantly filled with people. After fully digesting our food and buying our swimming equipment, we began with probably the funnest part of the day: snorkelling!
As we put on our snorkelling gear, I almost exploded from eagerness. My heart was beating out of my chest. When I dipped my toes into the water, I instantly knew that it was the perfect temperature for swimming. Slowly, I waded into the water until my feet couldn’t touch the bottom. Fish were already nibbling at my legs and the water currents pushed me back. Finally, I put my head under the water and saw the phenomenal scenery of mother nature. There were fish swimming beside stingrays and crabs crawling across the ocean floor. The corals were covered in starfishes and shells while the sea snails slid around the smooth rocks. I wanted to take a closer look, so I took a deep breath, took out my snorkel and dived down deeper.
Everything looked so beautiful from above, but being right next to it was a once-in- a- lifetime experience. I could see all the shiny details on the fishes’ scales and the small mosses on the corals’ edges. I swam above and under the water for hours. I could never be bored of the ocean’s beauty. Unfortunately, we were cutting it close to our boat ride back so we hopped out of the water and dried ourselves out.
After we did our final packing, we headed back to the dock and climbed onto the boat. The waves were much calmer than before, making the trip back very peaceful. It was so gentle that some of my friends fell asleep. We might not’ve known what our next adventure will be, but we did know that this is one we would never forget.
About the Author
Marianna Janae Sindanum Winfield
My name is Marianna and I recently started my first year of high school. My favourite subjects are English, Maths and Sport. Aside from writing, I also enjoy reading, performing and playing badminton with my family. My dream is being a vet or zookeeper because ever since I was a kid, I loved animals. My favourite place to learn is in nature because that’s where all my favourite animals are.