Donna Does Snorkeling
Nov. 3rd, 2002 07:57 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
kyburgJim plunks down $90 in snorkel rentals. I have my own prescription mask, "dry" snorkle and flippers in my size. Tips and directions to the good spots. Everything ready to go.
Except neither of us have snorkled before. But hey, it's easy and everyone does it! We'll be fine.
We go to the Place of Refuge, where we have seen much turtle, fish and dolphin action. It'll be fun!
We suit up, hide the car keys in a place everyone with a brain can find, but won't be lost in the surf and head out. "Just remember," I say, "At this point I can't see."
Jim braves the waves first. Both of us are duck waddling in the flippers and the water is "brisk." Somehow, I get in the water. Somehow, I get into water I can swim in.
Put face underwater. Whoa, mask works. Whoa, I can breathe pretty okay, too.
Whoa, sea turtle. SEA TURTLE?!!!
Donna eeked. Flailed about like she'd seen a hissing cobra. Poor sea turtle probably was just heading away from another tour when he caught me out.
Problem: Place of Refuge is carved out of a lava flow. The rocks are sharp, filled with sea urchins and slippery as hell.
I scraped both knees getting out of the water. When I got out and sat down, I saw I'd done a bit more. I'd sliced my knee open. Deep. Enough for me to go "uh oh" and realize I was going to do some time in the Kona Community Hospital ER.
Then I couldn't see Jim anymore. No big surprise there, the prescription mask was off, and the prescription glasses were in the car.
Jim, meanwhile, was being hauled back in by a more experienced swimmer - he'd gotten in over his head and out in too deep of water.
Once he got back, we got in the car, went to the ER and spent the afternoon. No sutures, but got a tetnus booster and a good scrubbing. And we got a good look at one of the three hospitals on the Big Island. Nice place.
And we returned the snorkle gear.
Except neither of us have snorkled before. But hey, it's easy and everyone does it! We'll be fine.
We go to the Place of Refuge, where we have seen much turtle, fish and dolphin action. It'll be fun!
We suit up, hide the car keys in a place everyone with a brain can find, but won't be lost in the surf and head out. "Just remember," I say, "At this point I can't see."
Jim braves the waves first. Both of us are duck waddling in the flippers and the water is "brisk." Somehow, I get in the water. Somehow, I get into water I can swim in.
Put face underwater. Whoa, mask works. Whoa, I can breathe pretty okay, too.
Whoa, sea turtle. SEA TURTLE?!!!
Donna eeked. Flailed about like she'd seen a hissing cobra. Poor sea turtle probably was just heading away from another tour when he caught me out.
Problem: Place of Refuge is carved out of a lava flow. The rocks are sharp, filled with sea urchins and slippery as hell.
I scraped both knees getting out of the water. When I got out and sat down, I saw I'd done a bit more. I'd sliced my knee open. Deep. Enough for me to go "uh oh" and realize I was going to do some time in the Kona Community Hospital ER.
Then I couldn't see Jim anymore. No big surprise there, the prescription mask was off, and the prescription glasses were in the car.
Jim, meanwhile, was being hauled back in by a more experienced swimmer - he'd gotten in over his head and out in too deep of water.
Once he got back, we got in the car, went to the ER and spent the afternoon. No sutures, but got a tetnus booster and a good scrubbing. And we got a good look at one of the three hospitals on the Big Island. Nice place.
And we returned the snorkle gear.
