When it’s time to board, Xander hops in before me, then surprises me by offering his hand.
And I don’t hesitate to grab it.
It’s an innocent gesture, but I like the feel of his palm against mine.
The firm hold on me is comforting, yet intense.
I lick my lips as we settle next to each other near the back by another couple.
The sway of the boat from the soft waves below us rocks me from side to side, and the adventure ahead becomes more real.
I’m about to go snuba diving on freaking Maui!
The giddy flutters in my stomach make me smile, and I breathe it all in as the captain proceeds to describe the two dive sites we’ll be visiting today, followed by facts of the reef. Unlike the shoreline reef, the ones we’ll be visiting farther out into the ocean aren’t damaged by people trampling on them.
He continues describing what we’ll see, along with safety details regarding sea turtles and rays we might come across, as we head out to sea.
At one point, he pauses as a group of dolphins pops up next to the boat and swims along with us. We alloohandahhover the animals, enjoying their carefree jumps like we’re watching innocent kids play and giggle.
I didn’t see this many dolphins during the week I spent in Bali for a fitness and wellness retreat. A few of the locals had said there are several different species of dolphins that are always spotted in the area, so we took a boat out to the deep sea. We only saw a couple of the adorable creatures swimming about, though.
The ones here are a lot less shy, I guess.
I’m captivated by them and the scenery, and the rest of the ride flies by until we drop anchor. Blue water surrounds us for miles, and in the distance, green mountains stand tall like they’re on watch, protecting us.
“I’m already glad we’re doing this,” I say to Xander, grinning widely as one of the guides connects my hose to the air supply that’ll remain on a raft above the water surface. This way, we can stay under a lot longer than if we were snorkeling.
Once we’re finally in the water, Xander and I stay close, pointing out anything we find cool. The clusters of coral lining the jagged hills. The school of yellow fish. The big pink-and-white starfish stuck to the side of a rock.
After several minutes, I get lost in my mission to find a sea turtle, and when I turn back around, Xander is no longer next to me. I kick my flippers behind me to search for him, only to realize I’ve kicked him. I burst out of the water, my mask tight around my eyes and nose, and I yank the mouthpiece out, sputtering, “I didn’t see you!”
“You did that on purpose,” he calls out, raising his mask to wipe under his eyes.
When we dive back in, we’re joined by a couple of green sea turtles, swimming gracefully like they don’t have unexpected guests. My squeals are muffled underwater as I point them out to Xander, who’s swam up beside me.
He dips deeper, swimming farther ahead, and I’m just about to follow when he abruptly changes course—as quickly as possible under water, that is. His mask makes it hard for me to read his expression, but when he gets close, I notice his eyes are wide and fearful. He waves me back up and grabs my arm when I don’t move fast enough.
We emerge above water again, sputtering and breathing heavily. Instead of stopping, he grabs the raft and leads us back toward the boat while the rest of the group carries on.
“Everything all right?” the captain calls out and meets us at the edge of the boat.
Once we’ve climbed inside, I realize Xander’s only wearing one flipper. “What happened to your—”
“The turtle… It bit my flipper… Just took it,” he manages, trying to catch his breath as he rests his palms on both knees.
“A turtle?” the captain and I both repeat, stunned.
“I didn’t think I was even that close—I know you said they’re endangered, so I kept my distance—but one swam up fast and took me by surprise.” Xander’s chest rises and falls as he frantically nods, and then he confuses me further by bursting into hysterical laughter.
“That’s not funny,hoaloha.” The captain inspects Xander’s ankle, and I look over his shoulder and find slight red lines marring his skin. “You’re lucky they didn’t take your whole foot with them.”
Xander waves him off. “I’m fine. It’s an experience, right? Who else gets their flipper stolen by a mean turtle?”
I cover my mouth, and I can’t help my laugh, either. I’m still high on the epic excursion too. I mean, we just swam with turtles and other wildlife in the bluest water I’ve ever seen. Not to mention the pictures I snapped on the way here. The backdrop doesn’t get better than this.
Given he’s okay, how can I not laugh over the fact that my friend was just bullied out of his flipper by a turtle?
The captain, who’s become a third wheel, shakes his head, leaving us alone on this side of the boat while the rest of the group finishes their swim.