Seventh Heaven in South Africa

 

As I stood on the shore, uncertain of myself, I faltered and curled my toes into the wet, cold sand. 

Had I really come this far?

Seventh Heaven in South Africa

I looked up at the horizon and watched as the frothy green waves rolled in heavily and crashed at my feet whilst mountains rose in the background on the other side of False Bay. The icy chill of the water on my toes brought me back to my senses and the realisation that yes it was me and I had made it that far. I was standing at the bottom of the world and I had never felt more thankful for every step that brought me to that moment. I had overcome hurdles that felt like mountains, injuries that left me broken and there I was still leading a life of travel and following my dreams. In spite of my fears and uncertainty, I had taken a leap of faith and left my home to find out what lay beyond all that I knew to be safe, secure and routine. I had longed to find out how people lived, laughed and explored on the other side of it all. I swirled my big toe amongst the broken, pearlescent mussel shells and my heart swelled with gratitude. I had done it.

There is nowhere that leaves me feeling more myself than when I am underwater with sharks. Those masters of the ocean leave me peaceful, calm and incredibly grateful for life when they grace me with their presence. As I stood on that shore swirling my toe I remembered my love for the ocean and took considered and cautious steps into the water. For the first time in months I was able to swim unaided. I tripped over smooth boulders unseen below the sandy surf and the cold took my breath away. I barely had time to register the incoming waves as I fell onto my front, laughing and weightless, and was pain free at last. As I drifted past the waves and onto the kelp forest below me my hands were already numb,  my heart was racing and I couldn’t stop smiling. My dive partner took my hand gently and we descended onto my favourite dive site in the world; my real home, my bliss. My recovery milestone I had been working towards all those long months.

The thick kelp forest swayed back and forth around me as we sank like stones and the sunlight shone down amongst the fronds of kelp and dappled the sand below. I was floating in an underwater forest of light and pure unadulterated life. There were rotund pink snails nestled amongst the kelp and urchins dotted across the boulders; pin cushions of every shade of purple, grey and green imaginable. A bright orange starfish stood out amongst them all as we glided past and left just a trail of bubbles behind. Sea slugs hid in crevices, tucked away from the current, their colours bright and luminescent against the dark of the seaweed around them. I arched my back and felt the water support me as I gazed at the surface above me, sparkling and glistening as the waves rolled on rhythmically.

As we came to rest at the empty sand patch within the reef, I waited with anticipation. I knew this was where the Sevengill sharks lived and, if they were feeling curious, would visit us. I breathed quietly, clasped my cold hands together upon my lap and said silent prayers for the sharks to come. I sat like a child waiting for Christmas as my hair drifted around me and swirled in front of my mask like a passing cloud. I was desperate to see the beauty of those sharks and I needn’t have been concerned. Within minutes one floated gently out of the gloom with a slight swish of his tail. He was bold and curious and slowly passed me within touching distance as he watched me with his round eye. He turned away from me at the last moment and I could see his beautiful grey skin was dotted with white freckles. His underbelly was white as snow. As he disappeared back into the gloom, perfectly camouflaged within his environment, I let out a loud laugh and squeal of excitement. At last, at long last, I had seen the sharks I had missed so terribly. As I became lost in my excitement a female Sevengill appeared and passed us by. It was absolute perfection and my eyes welled up as I admired her every move.

The chill reached my bones and we had to rejoin the world above. It was all too short and the remainder of the dive passed in a blur as I smiled to myself and ascended. I looked down at the reef below and realised that, in a world full of people, there was still a place to be free. I lifted my head in gratitude to the sunshine and broke the surface of the water to a cloudless sky above.

About the Author: Kathryn is a passionate marine conservationist, freelance writer and blogger. She is using her voice one day at a time to inspire others to explore, travel and create a better future for the oceans and sharks.

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