I run from the sand to the water, and dive into a wave as soon as it’s deep enough. Feeling the embrace of the warm, clear water, I throw on my snorkeling equipment while I can still stand on the ocean’s floor. I’m already way ahead of the rest of my family, who is trying to catch up to me in the water. I am geared up and ready to go, so I begin in solitude while the others get ready.

I swim out to the beginning of the reefs and observe the underwater world below me. I spot bubbles floating to the surface in a couple areas, indicating sea life underneath. Eager to see what is living down in the underwater city, I take a deep breath and begin my plunge. As I descend into the underwater realm, I am greeted by an abundance of colorful marine life. Schools of vibrant colored fish dart past me, startled by my intruding.

I graze over the coral, mesmerized by all the different organisms that live on the reef. I realize I need to come up for air so I make my way to the surface. As I look up I feel the sunlight glare through the water, and then I break the surface. I’m met with my family who finally caught up to me. They almost sound just as excited as I am looking at the reef. We all go down together to explore some more.

I see a rift underneath the coral, and wonder if it is a cave, so I dive down to the ocean floor. My heart skips a beat when I see a large creature underneath the rift. I swim back up to the top and quickly get my uncle’s attention who followed me back down to see. He is so intrigued, it’s a nurse shark, he is obsessed with sharks. He grabs his GoPro to take a video of it. Nurse sharks are not hostile, so he knows we are safe. 

We decide it is time to leave the underwater wonderland because we have overstayed our welcome. My cousins, sister and I swim next to each other on our way in. All of a sudden, my sister points to something next to me. A barracuda. This is a much bigger deal than a nurse shark considering they are hostile. I can’t help but stare at the beauty of it. It exhibits a certain iridescence that is astonishing to me. My uncle quickly comes to my rescue with a spear he made himself, and scares it away. Maybe the residents of the underwater city want to explore the beauty of our world too.