Swimming through
the warm ocean waters
I drift slowly
staring down
into the beautiful
reefs below me.
I am surrounded by
beauty.
Nothing I have ever
seen before.
I continue to swim
admiring
the beautiful array
of colors
all around.
I watch as
different fish
swim by
and underneath
me.
They're all so pretty
unique from one another.

I bobble up and down
gasping for air
the rough waves
push me back and forth
continuously.
They roll into shore
and forcefully
crash into the rocks.
I paddle hard
but the strong waves
don’t let me go anywhere.
I only feel trapped                                                                                     Keilitz 2
and scared.

I start spinning
out of control
backwards
being carried to shore
roughly
by the giant waves.
I can’t breathe
all I see is blackness
my muscles feel weak
and I don’t know
where I am.

The waves
start to to calm down
again
the sandy ocean floor
settles back down
the water gains back
its clear turquoise
look
I can breath.
I am relieved.

Looking down into the water
I see something
I look closer
right beneath me
is a sea turtle.
I stare at the turtle
in absolute awe
he is gorgeous.
A bright green shell
big beady eyes
a distinct pattern
and a friendly personality.

I follow the turtle.
We smoothly swim
through the shallow waters
together
we stay
side by side.
It is amazing.
the turtle continued to swim
I followed.
Taking it all in
is so hard
it doesn’t seem
real.

I lift my head out of the water
to catch some fresh air.
Dunking back in
I open my eyes.
Right before me
stood four sea turtles
causally
eating red
sea weed plants.
I swim up a little closer
and “snap” click the gopro
capturing this once in a lifetime
chance all on tape.

My new friends and I.