Black Tip, White Tip

Grey Tip, Nurse

Twelve weeks have swimmingly drifted by — the first three acclimating to the island’s threats and offerings — ready for bottom time’s promised peace* of paradise.

From self-reliant to relearning buddy-system once more — squirrely, to say the least, or flounder more appropriately — each entry more enjoyable than the next. From junkyard dogs dumping — to transforming reef shelves welcoming sea creatures — the smallest of anemones to the greatest of wing-spanning rays.

Bottom time!

It is like a farmer’s field with various cucumbers lounging on the ocean floor — starfish of all colors — blue, the most vibrant. Beware! Says the cone snail to the stonefish — circling the crown of thorns — three of the most poisonous and surely a trip to the emergency room with little time to spare.

Rumored spotting — anxious to see firsthand — not one shark passing through for a bite or feasting frenzy demand. Black tip, white tip — maybe a grey or nurse shark — not my day to witness their daily routine.

Be cool — here she comes over the top of Coco’s reef — black tip swimming through, looking for a bite to eat — beautiful! Alert my buddies because that is what a good buddy does — shark fin hand at forehead’s center. One buddy remains in Seiza position while drifting along, the other top bound around forty feet depth, catching a glimpse of passing sharks.

One, two, three, four, five — fifth one more curious than the rest — stopping for a turn and staring down — never batting an eye. Whoa, fella! Time to move on — with octo in hand, ready to blow — and so they did.

Shark swim — check! Next up — nightly swim — deep diving into another possibility. I will miss the time spent here — Micronesia at its finest — exploring the deep blue seas.

Four weeks remain.

~Ani Po

Much gratitude to The Dive Tribe Guam! For the time in the water, lessons accompanying bottom time’s adventure, and what to do in the event of a shark encounter. The rumored punching of a shark is not nearly as effective as taking an octo-regulator out and blowing air into the shark’s direction.

Thank you Marilyn Glover, and the whole Third-Eye-Ascension family for holding this sacred space.

Much gratitude for those who take time to read, ponder, and allow the inner workings of self to come forward. Grateful for the feedback, love shared, and, more importantly, the Dance with Inspiration. Deep Peace.

Joseph Lieungh

• Word choice deliberately using peace versus piece, as it is another world under the sea. No chaotic human activity, just one’s vulnerability at the mercy of the sea. As Captain Bill says “diving in Guam is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you are going to get.”
• Sadly, this may be my last dive. As I finished this piece, my left side went limp and ended up in a stroke hospital. Thank heavens for TPA and the Decompression chamber, as we do not know where I would be at this moment in time. Four days later, discharged and clapping keys!!!
• I am deliberately leaving ‘four weeks remain’ in. Was supposed to end my assignment in four weeks, but I am leaving the island immediately and it feels like an appropriate time for my recovery.