magical 2 step

There is a snorkel spot close to my house named 2 step after the 2 natural lava steps leading into the ocean. I have swam there many times but 2 days ago I had the most magical swim of all.

Sitting on the edge of the steps I contemplated going it. The air has cooled a bit and the fresh water coming into the ocean has made swimming a bit chillier than usual. But after drifting my toes in the water for a few minutes I decided to take the plunge.

This particular day I only wore my mask and snorkel...no fins. I've been enjoying paring down my gear to almost nothing. I love the feel of the water next to my bare skin, I love powering under my own legs, I love allowing the ocean to glide me along in her gentle flow.

As I swam out toward the open ocean I came across 2 turtles. These beautiful slow moving creatures are often found in this area. These 2 particular ones were swimming along toward rocky reef headed close to the Place of Refuge National Park(which, by the way, is unpolitically correct to say anymore...all signs saying Place of Refuge have been removed). I swam along...following these two and diving down to glide next to the one closest to me. He looked into my eye with his old wise turtle eyes and accepted my presence as non-threatening. He allowed me to swim along next to him, to be with him in his element and I so appreciated his being. When these interactions happen I remember how much "just being" can be so appreciated. This turtle wasn't doing anythin particularly extraordianary besides living his life as he is to live it. Yet I loved him totally and completely for it, for just being there, for our two souls to have come together in that place and time for just a few minutes. And for both of us to recognize the other and allowed each other to be together there.

I continued on my way and found the cave tube that can be swam through. There was a guy there swimming through it again and again and I watched him play and glide through this natural structure. I didn't have fins so I knew it would be a stretch for me make it all the way through with enough breath. Once the guy left I decided I'd try it. I dove down first to make sure my ears would equalize easily and I felt like I would have enough breath. Then I rested at the surface, calmed myself, my breath and my being and prepared to go through the tunnel. While I dove down I kept saying to myself "oh yah, no problem, I can do this." I got through the main part of the cave and started coming up and hit my head on a rock and then scraped my back as I surfaced, but it was a wonderful experience. I loved going through even though I barely remember any of the event. Just overcoming the fear and the danger was enough.

Totally satisfied I started swimming back to shore and to my utter delight there was the biggest octopus I've ever seen. She was swimming around gliding from coral to coral, using her arms sometimes and other times swimming by using her funnel to propel her self across the water arms tucked behind her. She was morphing her colors the whole time going from all white to red to brown and then half red and half white, speckled and then white again. I was so overjoyed at seeing this creature again I thought how wonderful it's life was while just being...don't nothing extraordinary.

I said goodbye to my octopus friend and started heading back to shore when I found a spotted eagle ray digging around in the sand. He was beautiful and big with a long tail and spoon shaped snout. At this point I was so amazed and happy and awestruck I could hardly contain myself. I was so thankful with eyes bursting open and water seeping in my mask and snorkel. I was totally freaking out in my own little calm, composed way.