As I stood at the edge of the pool, gazing out at the crystal-clear water, I felt a thrill coursing through my veins. The water was whispering secrets, luring me to dive into its depths. I was about to snorkel with some of the most beautiful creatures I had ever laid eyes on—rescued stingrays and brilliantly colored parrotfish and glimmering silverfish were all gliding effortlessly through the silky saltwater. The St. Augustine Aquarium and Rescue was a place I had been wanting to visit, and now, as I prepared to take the plunge, I felt like I was on the verge of something truly special and unique.
I slipped on my snorkeling gear and stepped into the pool, the warm water enveloped me like a gentle hug, comforting me in a way that I didn’t know I needed. I took a deep breath, and a I descended beneath the surface, the world above receded, and I found myself in an alien landscape of shimmering scales and undulating fins. The stingrays, with their majestic wingspans, glided past me like ghosts, their eyes seeming to hold a deep wisdom. The silly looking sliver fish pecked at my bare skin, perhaps hoping to find food on myself.
The parrotfish, with their vibrant colors and curious glances, darted and weaved around me, their presence a testament to the beauty and diversity of marine life. I felt excitement and sadness thrum through my heart in a chaotic symphony. I know that these animals have been injured or sickened by the human activities of today, and it pained me to realize that they would never get to go back the open ocean because of it.
Snorkeling alongside these incredible creatures that held unparalleled majesty, I felt a sense of awe and wonder that I had never experienced before. It was as if I had stumbled into a hidden world, one that was both familiar but also more mysterious than the Moon. The more I observed these animals, the more I realized how much we still haven’t learned about the ocean and its inhabitants. I knew that I needed, or, more so, craved to know more about the deep blue. And with that realization came a sense of purpose—a desire to contribute, in some small or significant way, to the preservation and protection of this strikingly stunning ecosystem.
When I left the aquarium that day, I felt this overwhelming sense of gratitude and wonder that has stayed with me to this day. However, I also felt guilt. I know that the reason why many of those sea creatures were at the rescue aquarium are human caused, and it struck my soul to know what we are doing to the precious beauties beneath the waves. The St. Augustine Aquarium had given me a gift—a glimpse into a world of beauty and curiosity and gave me a purpose that would stay with me for the rest of my life. I knew that I would never forget this experience, and that it would continue to inspire me as I am pursuing my dreams of working in marine rescue, hoping to save what we have hurt in this saltwater paradise.
Written by Ciaran Treinan (a junior at Stewarts Creek High School in Murfreesboro, TN) for the World Is A Classroom essay contest.
Photo courtesy of Ciaran Treinan.
