Morning, lover.”

“Ugh, toothbrush. Now.” I pulled the covers up to my nose, mostly to hide my grin.

“Now that’s just mean. You’re supposed to be all mushy when someone loves you.”

“Fine, just brush your teeth. You smell like fish.” I pulled the covers over my head to hide my smirk. He laughed, dragging me into the bathroom with him.

Forty-five minutes later we were clean, satisfied, and late for breakfast. We grabbed a quick bite and headed to meet with the other divers. I forced my bagel down to settle my nerves, while Keith practically danced around the halls. He was so excited to share this with me and to see some of the wreckages we’d read about. His excitement was contagious.

“Don’t worry, Tasha, we’re going to be fine. I’ve been on dozens of ocean dives, and it’s just like diving in Tahoe, only better. You’re so going to love this! The water is so much warmer than Tahoe and should be very clear. I won’t let anything happen to you, I promise.”

“I’ll get over it, just let me be.” Stupid fear. I wished I’d never seen Bite. Whoever thought great white sharks mauling people and hunting an entire family would make an excellent film was a genius and a sadist in one. I admit it was a great movie, just not for an impressionable seven year old. I’d had a fear of sharks since the first time I saw the girl thrashing about in the shark’s maw. I can do this. I wanted to do this.

I reminded myself that it’d be just like riding my sport-bike; stupid, reckless, and so much fun. I bought the motorcycle on a dare, not realizing the freedom it’d bring to my life. I was determined since then to live my life to its fullest potential. It was a reminder I needed right now. Nerves and fear are healthy. They help keep you safe. While it wasn’t altogether natural for someone to dive, I knew this would be fine. It was as controlled as diving could get.

“Don’t let fear rule your life,” I whispered. Keith turned and smiled at me. His hair was disheveled and his wet suit fit him like a second skin. A little thrill went through me at the thought of him being mine. My hormones did their happy dance, and I smiled back.

“Are you sure you want to do this? We could just stay in bed all day if you chicken out.” He took me in his arms, nipping my nose with his lips.

“Shut up. I’m okay, now. Let’s go.” I laughed at his antics.

Before the skiff would depart, we had to go through the final instructions from the lead diver, Jorge Mendoza. He was the one directing the more novice divers like me, unless we were partnered with a more experienced diver. Keith had been on dozens of dives, and I knew he’d keep me safe. He and I were with his friends, and Maurice and Stuart were able to join our group. Keith’s friends were the same rambunctious guys he used to hang with, the playful ribbing continuing as if time had never separated us.

There were a few other people that I hadn’t seen before, and I was especially surprised to see Victoria. She wore the same scowl that I was beginning to think was her customary expression, hidden behind more clothing and sunscreen than I’d ever seen on a young, attractive woman. Jorge was an older guy with an expression of absolute seriousness. He didn’t seem too excited to be taking us out in the deep ocean.

“Now, before we take off, there are some rules to follow. Number one: do not let go of your buddy. Number two: keep an eye on your O2 tank. The boat will be out here for approximately three hours, or until the last one of you returns, whichever is first.” Jorge’s voice was stern, clipped. He didn’t wait for us to settle down, rather he expected us to shut our traps and listen. “Remember that time is your enemy down there and that depth can be deceiving. You need to plan for fifteen minute stops every fifty feet you’re down to avoid getting the bends. You’re all experienced divers or you wouldn’t have been given clearance to dive. Remember to be safe down there; I’d like to be able to have a congratulatory dinner with all of you when we get to Bermuda this evening. Be back at the skiff no later than thirteen hundred hours, that’s one o’clock for you landlubbers.” His eyes met mine for a moment before darting off and continuing.

“If you’re not back by then I’ll assume you’ve lied on all your paperwork, or have decided on a nice ocean grave, and we’ll leave you there. Your loved ones will be charged for the loss of my equipment, and will be given a letter explaining your stupidity. I notice a few of you have the Neptunic shark suit. Let me assure you that these will not be necessary. We’re farther out than the sharks generally like to hunt, and as long as you remain in your group, you should be safe. However, I do appreciate the extra safety measures; it tells me you’re paying attention. Let’s be safe and have fun, people.

“On a side note, while we have snacks for you on the boat, they are not for the fish. I realize this is rather tempting, but please do not feed the animals that you encounter. The dolphins and sea turtles are curious creatures and will enjoy being pet and fed. Please do not do either of these things as you could disrupt the natural order of life in this area. It does not help to try and domesticate them. Synchronize your watches now. It is currently oh-eight-thirty. You are to be on my deck no later than thirteen hundred or you will be left. Have fun people.”

With that, the small boat roared off, taking us miles ahead of the cruise ship. We could barely see Bermuda off in the distance, or Bimini with our docked ship behind us. It was rather eerie to be bobbing about with just glimpses of land and our cruise ship. I knew that wouldn’t last though, and by the time we were finished with our dive, the ship would probably be closer to Bermuda than we were.

As we put on our gear, I was happy to note that both Keith and I were wearing the Neptunic shark gear. It was top of the line, and really helped calm my fear of being mauled by sharks. After securing the camera strap to my wrist and my bowie knife on my thigh, I checked Keith’s gear and oxygen supply, then turned so he could check mine. I’d forgotten how heavy all the equipment was and couldn’t wait to get in the water. We tethered together and at Jorge’s signal, went overboard.

My pulse was racing; I focused all my energy on keeping my breathing steady. All I could envision was leaping into the opening maw of a great white. My eyes reflexively closed shut—if I were to get eaten, I certainly didn’t want to witness it. Something swam in front of me, I felt a hand caress my face and I opened my eyes to see Keith facing me so that he could make sure I was okay. Seeing that neither of us was shark bait calmed me a bit. He gestured in front of us, encouraging me to take in the beauty I was missing. I was in awe. The Investigating Nature channel couldn’t encompass the beauty of what I was witness to.

We were hovering just above reefs filled with coral, seaweed, and wreckages the ocean was slowly working on claiming. Fish of all sizes and colors swam around our little group, investigating the strange visitors to their habitat. Keith and I meandered down toward the reef. Sea turtles swam up to us, head butting us and allowing us to feel the slick algae-covered shells protecting them. It was spectacular. I almost forgot to take pictures for Ashlyn. She’d be in heaven right now.

Next to Janice Kansas, Ash loved dolphins and sea turtles more than anything. As I was filling my memory card up with dozens of photos of the turtles, a pod of dolphins arrived to join the fun. They swam around us, darting close enough to touch, then swimming quickly out of reach.

The reef was awash in colors. Plants and creatures were swaying in the current; fish of all shapes, sizes, and colors swam around us as if we didn’t exist. Sea horses darted out from their hiding place of seaweed to play in the bubbles created by our regulators. This was definitely more amazing than the shallow dive we’d had yesterday in Bimini.

We continued to dive to the first of the shipwrecks we could reach safely, and started to explore. The reef had caves with eels slithering in and out. I shivered as we swam by. Sea snakes and eels were on the list of things I never particularly wanted to experience. The shipwrecks started to the side of the reef with coral growing all over. My heart pounded with fear and excitement as we approached the first ship. It was spectacular and looked to be about fifteenth century, completely cleaned out of anything but the iron and wooden fixtures.

I gently brushed my hand across the side, expecting the wood to crumble but it didn’t. It was surprisingly sturdy under my palm, slick with algae, covered in bits of reef, but strong. I felt like a mermaid searching for the lost treasure of humans. The ships had holes in their sides; some were completely broken in half. The sun shone through the waves, glittering and sending shadows everywhere amongst the wreckage.

Keith let me explore on my own, but he was always close by to lend a reassuring hand in case I became scared or nervous. His friends were in my peripheral, and Stuart and Maurice were holding hands while they swam. It was one of the most romantic things I had ever seen. I snapped a picture of the two of them.

Keith went ahead of me into the belly of the halved ship, while Stuart and Maurice followed through the first wreck. There was really only space for us to swim in single file, and the water was slightly cooler in the ship, where the sun never entered. I forced myself to stay calm with these three experienced divers. I knew Keith wouldn’t lead me into a place that would be trouble. He held a flashlight that seemed to appear out of nowhere. I’d been too preoccupied with myself when we were loading up to see what he’d packed. He illuminated seaweed, shelving, stairs, and some very old frames devoid of the pictures they once held. It was oddly eerie, and the sound of my breaths coming in and out of the regulator weren’t helping the macabre environment at all.

Each ship we explored looked similar, the desolation and isolated solitude of them caused a sadness that I didn’t expect to fill me. It was akin to walking through a cemetery. I was both disappointed and relieved to note that there weren’t any skeletons floating around. Pirates or treasure hunters must have cleaned out the ships years ago. The beauty, destruction, and sense of past adventure was breathtaking.

All too soon we needed to head back to the rendezvous point. Stuart and Maurice were already halfway up, after relating to us that they needed to rise or risk running out of oxygen. At their reminder, we checked our tanks, surprised that they too were almost at the level necessary for us to rise. Keith and I were just getting ready to head to the surface when Keith indicated that he wanted to look at something. He flashed five fingers telling me he needed five minutes and I followed him around the bow of the wreck.

I rounded the wreck we’d just visited and saw a green fin disappear a few more feet below, into the ship’s break, just past the mast. It was strange looking, almost like kelp, but shimmery. I pushed past Keith, knowing the distance wasn’t going to hinder our return trip to the surface. Curiosity overwhelmed me; I had to know what kind of creature had that strange, thin fin. Just as I was passing the break, I hit a tide. If we weren’t tethered and very close to the ship, I’d have been lost. Gripping onto the mast of the ship, I looked up to Keith to indicate that I was done when I saw them. Five hammerhead sharks were circling us, thirty feet above our heads.

All reason escaped me. I panicked and bolted away from them, forgetting about the current I’d just hit. Keith tried to pull me back with the cord and I freaked out even more. I thought the sharks had noticed my panic and were eating him, zeroing in after me for their second course. In my blind fear I grabbed my knife and cut the cord, unwittingly allowing myself to be sucked into the current. I tumbled around the wreckage, hitting the wood and reef with my body and equipment. I saw a glimpse of Keith with what I thought were sharks still swimming above him. I felt my head collide with something, then nothing.