s dune shaped by the winds of Africa, amidst these dunes I saw a reef jutting out, still remaining even after the endless years of water swirling around it. We finally ended our decent to the seabed, which was some hundred feet below the surface. I looked up and could make out the outline of the boat’s bottom. This was to be a magnificent dive!The first thing I came upon when I hovered above the reed was a beautiful Angelfish. It’s vibrant colors shining at me, enticing me to take a closer look. Golden yellows, deep and dark blacks, and warm blues were all over it’s body. Turning away from his gaze, I scanned the many crevices and crannies of the reef. Out of one of these holes I saw a lobster. It had its sharp, probing antenna poking out of its hideaway. I chose not to disturb it however, since I did not have a tickle stick and bag with me at the time; nor was it lobster season.I closed my eyes for a moment, listening to the singsong rhyme of the air bubbles coming from our tanks. I exhaled slowly and listened to them flow from my mouth. Along with this sound I heard everyone else swimming around me slowly losing his or her thoughts to the reef’s serenity. I opened my eyes and exhaled once more, and watched as they floated to the top of the sea, just as carbonation from a drink would as you pour it into a cup. I wanted to reach onto the reef and feel the different plants that were growing on it. However, I was reminded of our briefing at the dive boat where the divemaster told us to help keep the reefs healthy for other visitors by not touching what we saw. So I held the urge back.With our oxygen running low, we decided we had better go back to the “normal” world. We made our slow, peaceful ascent up to the top just as we had gone down. I left all the tension I carried down at the bottom with the sea. So that the current could carry it away, and I could forget my troubles. Instead o...
