Page 56 of Rescuing Mia
“I think you and Pete should enjoy your dives while I enjoy the deck and the sun.”
Pete sits beside me, his weathered face creased with a broad grin. We’ve become fast friends over the past few days, bonding over our shared love of the ocean and the thrill of exploration. Samantha and Jessica have long since abandoned us, their interest in me waning when it became clear I only had eyes for Mia.
They’re cordial enough to Pete, but their snubs toward Mia are over the top.
Downright derogatory, if I’m being honest.
Fortunately, Mia doesn’t seem to care, her focus solely on the adventures ahead. With over thirty guests on board, it’s easy enough to keep a polite distance.
“Have you dived here before?” I ask, shifting in my seat to face Pete. The rough texture of the deck bites into my palms as I lean back, the anticipation building in my veins.
We’ve teamed up as dive buddies for the duration. I have more dives than he has, hundreds more, but those were all mission dives. Pete’s a pro when it comes to diving for fun.
“A couple of times.” Pete nods, his eyes sparkling with excitement. “It’s going to be amazing.” He points to my camera. “The colors, the life… It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen. Should make for spectacular photography.”
A thrill runs through me. I’ve done hundreds of dives, maybe thousands, but those were all mission-oriented. Cold, calculated, with a singular focus.
But this—this is diving for the sheer joy of it, for the wonder and the beauty of the underwater world.
As Pete chatters on about the sites we’ll be exploring, I turn my attention to my camera. Unlike my dive gear, which is safely stowed in the individual lockers down by the dive platform, I keep my photography equipment with me at all times.
The camera feels solid and reassuring in my hands as I carefully fit it into its specialized underwater casing. The lubricant I use on the O-rings is greasy but without any sharp chemical smells.
I attach the lights, their weight pulling at the case as I secure them in place. They jut out from the sides like the legs of some strange, mechanical crab, ready to illuminate the secrets of the deep.
Around us, the energy on the deck reaches a fevered pitch as the divers assemble in their groups. The clink and rattle of tanks being hoisted, the hiss of regulators being tested, the snap of wetsuits being donned… It all blends into a symphony of anticipation.
With our dive briefing over, we divers slowly work our way down to the dive platform.
“You sure you don’t want to try snorkeling?” I pull Mia to my side and give her a sloppy kiss.
“Definitely.”
“As you wish.”
This isn’t the best dive spot to introduce a virgin snorkeler to the wonders of the underwater world. We’re at anchor with a forty-foot sandy bottom. Other than fish, it’s too far to really appreciate the coral so far below.
I’ve already checked our other sites, and there are better, shallower, options in our future.
The crew divided us into four groups for our diving. Pete and I are in the third group, and Jessica and Samantha are in the first group, which consists of the least experienced divers. I’m thankful for that.
Diving is rarely a solo expedition, and it’s not uncommon to split divers up according to their experience level. It may be horrible of me to think it, but I’m happy not to babysit Jessica and Samantha.
It means Pete and I can do something a bit more aggressive.We’ve already received permission from the dive staff to venture away from our group.
“Are you ready, buddy?” Pete puts his hand on my shoulder, pushing his mask up onto his forehead.
“More than ready. Let’s do this.” I grin, the excitement bubbling up inside me like a physical force.
Together, we make our way to the dive platform. The ocean stretches out before us, a vast expanse of blue that holds the promise of untold wonders.
Serenityhas a slick dive platform at the stern of the boat. Resting a foot or so above the waterline, it spans the full twenty-five-foot width of the boat, which gives us plenty of room to gear up.
As I take my place at the edge of the platform, I catch Mia’s eye. She watches from the upper deck, her hair whipping in the wind, her smile bright and encouraging. Pete and I complete our buddy checks, activate our dive computers, and do one final check before taking a giant stride off the back of the boat.
The sudden drop in temperature sends a shiver down my spine, but it’s a welcome sensation—a sharp contrast to the heat of the sun above. There’s nothing more amazing than the initial plunge when you trade the gravity of land for the weightlessness of water. The water is crystal clear, and visibility extends far into the distance.
Pete and I surface. We exchange a quick ok sign, ensuring that all is well, and then, with a thumbs-down signal, we descend.