A Fish’s Nibble: Wading in Warm Waters
FIJI
The epitome of puckered lips came straight for me. It would have been cute, had I not been holding bread which was actually getting soggy so fast, yet another reason to dispose of it. They seemed sweet and tiny, I could probably palm two of them. With five vertical black stripes against their white bodies, if it were up to me, I’d name them ‘zebra fish’.
Their tiny translucent pink fins fluttered furiously but they exuded an air of nonchalantness that perhaps only the water dwellers can possess. Through the glass bottom and in fact with the naked eye, we’d spotted them from the boat - these fish were the first to greet us. Curious and wide-eyed, they swarmed so up close, it was like I was dunked in the tank of their home.
Inspired by my zip-lining off the wreck in the Solomon Islands, I took to the Fijian waters quickly. The translucent teal was impressively clear and lukewarm. My inaugural evening dip was unplanned, yet perfectly timed to contrast sky and South Pacific Ocean with the setting sun.
Beachcomber Island’s 0.08 km2 made for a doable perimeter snorkel and swim. While I saw some marine life, the hues were the main attraction. As if the water and air were display stalls for paint stores, today’s highlights were turquoise to aquamarine to sea green.
By titrating my neck angle, I could revel in these (favourite) colours, or peek-a-boo up to the surface to see the baby blue sky give way to a soft blush followed by deeper shades of amethyst to lavender and plum then finally to a vibrant violet.
Like a rocking chair, I swayed my head back and forth to see the blues and purples against the fiery orange of the setting sun - representing different worlds, but at their core, sky and sea were made of the same elements.
Looking up from underneath, it was as if a film of cling wrap capped the water, like that dish of soup sloshing around yet still safeguarded within the saucer that contains it. Nature in action oozes creativity alongside natural logical laws, akin to the functions of our right and left brain.
Having had a frolic already, dipping back into deeper waters was easier. Nearby, we could see our neighbour, Treasure Island. Not far away was Manna, behind Mololo was Tokiriki and along the horizon was Castaway, made famous by the movie that was filmed nearby in the Mamanuca island group. Of Fiji’s 540 islets and 333 islands, 100 are inhabited. Like many of the South Pacific nations, the outer islands seem to be the pearls from which postcards are printed and often, where the party’s at.
Simulating the sound of respirations like Darth Vader, the hollow tube enabled my face to be fully submerged, allowing me the time to watch, wait, wade, waddle and bask in the warmth of the ocean, thrilled that the sun was striking my back. Mouth breathing makes one cognizant of the frequency and quality of inhales and exhales. Else, IRL, usually respirations aren’t even given a second thought - that is, if all’s going well.
Limited in the number we all have, I felt grateful to have these few rises and falls of my chest be as conscious as I was. It was as if my time snorkeling today was gauged on the number of breaths, versus the number of minutes that passed.
Suddenly, a school of fish swooshed by, as if they got the memo that I was holding bread! It was like being stuck in Friday evening rush hour as streams of fish swam frantically towards the same goal, each trying to outdrive the other. So, I swam on the ‘side streets’ to splay out and float like a sleeping starfish, turning my gaze skyward.
Afterall, I was finally on vacation! The ebb and flow of the waves gently rocked me, the sun streamed through the water as coral and fauna swayed below. Fish swam towards yet swerved around me, like I was some mammoth monument at the main roundabout. I giggled underwater.
Floating in peace I was … until a fish nibbled me! Never mind that I’m guilty of feeding on their family, I wasn’t in the mood to serve as an appy to them today. Swaying my appendages afforded me a bit more personal space in a place that I know I enter as an appreciative visitor. No harm, no foul. Just a reminder of the basics of the cycle of life and Maslow’s hierarchy of needs for all.
As I swam to different suburbs, I found various species of fish. The army green bigger guy with fluorescent orange lipstick and midline belt and a black fish with a yellow stripe that I somehow expected to say ‘caution’ on it. Then there were these hologram iridescent little ones, usually travelling in packs, swirling around me, like being in a Disney movie. The coral camouflaged ones that were harder to spot and stay focused on, a few bright yellow ones travelled in pairs, and the flat long greeny grey ones with the pale blue runway seem to be the resident locals. The ones that were the size of my feet and looked like they’d swallowed a parrot glittered at different angles - they seemed to be the Beauty Queens.
Fun fact, these parrot fish can produce a mucous like substance every 24 hours that creates a cocoon in which they can sleep at night, protected from large predators and parasites. What are the way in which we shield ourselves from pain - either from that outside of us or self inflicted? What are the shields we use and which of them are healthy I wondered as I watched the pretty parrot fish pucker up and glide by me gracefully.
Without an underwater case for my phone, I was left to take mental snaps of these scenes. Having so many fish mouths coming directly at me though, seems like they wouldn’t have been camera shy!
May we pucker up (when the time’s right) so we’re ready to take or give a nibble ;)
Love the addition of videos and pictures it brings all your words to life !