By telling us your country of residence we are able to provide you with the most relevant travel insurance information.
Please note that not all content is translated or available to residents of all countries. Contact us for full details.
Shares
The boat sped across the turquoise blue waters, making slight jolts as the waves swept underneath us. As I imagined what lay beneath this endless blue blanket, I was filled with anticipation and anxiety. What would we encounter? I felt the boat slowing and, with a friendly voice, the tour guide instructed us to put on our snorkel gear. As I yanked my snug flippers and mask on, my desperate urge to dive into the deep blue rose to the surface; like an air bubble trying to escape from the bottom of the ocean. It was a gloriously hot day; the endless blue of the sky and the sea was only contrasted by intense sun beams high above us. As we moved to sit on the edge of the boat ready to jump, I could feel cooling splashes of water grabbing at my ankles, tempting me to give in to their grip. Suddenly, the instructor shouted the signal to jump off the side of the boat. Before my brain could process my actions, I slipped into the cool, refreshing waters. Initially, I was shocked by the contrast of the cool water molecules seeping into my skin. Once my body adjusted, I plunged my mask into the sea and peered around. As I stared into the endless royal blue beneath me, I felt a surging sense of smallness, reminiscent of staring at the stars and wondering what could possibly be out there. A million thoughts entered my head about how small we humans really are, even on our own planet. I wondered how deep I would have to dive to be able to reach the bottom, and marvelled at the creatures that call this endless expanse their home. I brought my head to the surface and looked around at everyone. Urgently, the instructor shouted, “keep your heads down or you’ll miss him!”. Quickly, I immersed my eyes underwater again and peered down at the infinite blue. Out of nowhere, a hazy black oblong object appeared beneath us. As it became clearer, the features of the humpback whale came into focus. I felt his beading black eye staring straight at me as he swam towards us. How could an animal so gigantic be so graceful? A wave of emotions washed over me, mainly awe and appreciation at the existence of this magnificent creature. Gradually, fear began to rise as he got closer and closer. I began to panic when I believed he wouldn’t be able to stop. How much damage could this huge animal do if he so much as bumped into us? Relief filled my veins as he began to slowly turn in the water, flashing his white underbelly at the audience in awe. As he whisked through the water parallel to us, he was so close I could see every wrinkle and mark on his skin. The tiny barnacles attached to him were displayed before me, only for a second as he zipped past. His great, powerful tail was the last part of the show, as it flicked water towards us, we were pushed backwards by the incredible force. I removed my head from the water and got observe his striking, vast features in the bright sunlight. Shockingly, his large flipper emerged from the water and he rotated like a barrel rolling down a hill. As the flipper reached the water again, it hit with a striking, enormous slap. Slowly, he disappeared beneath the waves again. I dipped my head under the water and watched him fade until the endless blue returned. Gratitude and calmness overwhelmed me as I processed what I had been lucky enough to witness. As I celebrated the encounter with my friends, I could see the unbelievable excitement on their faces and knew this would be a moment that would connect us forever. We were told by the instructor to dive down and listen. I dived down as deep as I could and focused. My heart filled with pleasure as I heard the feint whistling of the far away creatures communicating through the vast expanse. From then on, I knew of the ocean as a secret world filled with incredible life, waiting to be explored.