10 miles out on the
Atlantic Ocean.
Just off the coast of
Cape Cod.

Far enough out that we can’t see any land,
We kill the engine and
Throw in the cage,
Time to find sharks.

“Look!”
My dad yells and I look to seem him pointing out at the water.
I don’t even need to ask I know what he sees,
A shark!

I run out to the open deck,
and I spot the back end of the shark.

It was an 8 foot long Mako Shark.
The dark gray rough shark snaps its tail,
splashing the water up 6 feet in the air and
Then slips back into the depths
of the ocean.

My family and the crew of the boat just stand there,
shocked at the sight we just saw.

A huge wave rocks the boat and we come back to reality.
Lucky for me I’m the first one in the wetsuit,
and not 5 seconds later
I am in the cage
My head darting back and forth

Swimming up and down
Scoping out the mako shark.

But in that cage I don't feel safe.
It is the one place in the world were I feel like
I don't belong at all.
Then I feel a force of water push me up.
First I look up then,
I look down.
There it is 3 feet under the cage the shark hovers.
He doesn't move he just hovers.
His dark black eyes hide where he is looking,
But I can tell he is looking straight at me,
As I am him.

Once again a large wave
Breaks the stare.

He takes off.
Amazed at how fast an animal can move underwater,
I press up against the cage trying to get one last glimpse.
All I see is his tail whipping,
Back and forth.

That image will forever be in my head.
The rough, gray tail whipping
Back and forth,
More powerful than anything I’ve ever see,
And me floating, more helpless and powerless as ever.