Swimming with sharks was “UnBELIZEable!” Join DaViking and I as we swim with a shiver of sharks in the Caribbean Ocean off the coast of Belize. Yes. A group of sharks is called a “shiver.” Apprehension swirled through me as we watched brown bodies under the surface tackle bits of bait at a nearby boat. A few people were snorkeling, but in this boat nobody was going into the water. “Why?” I wondered.

Our guides, Aaron and Job, carefully maneuvered us into the snorkeling area. Immediately a group of docile nurse sharks rippled the crystal waters as they neared our boat. Aaron pulled out a bag of chum. “Who’s going first?” Job called to our group of six. “Come to the other side of the boat, put on your fins and jump in. Stay at least six feet from the sharks while they’re eating.” (Staying six feet away sounded like a good idea to me!)

Everyone moved quickly as Aaron continued feeding the herd. After clicking a few photos, I carried my flippers, mask and snorkel to the aft of the boat. “Just sit there, put on your fins, flip your feet over the side and jump.” Job instructed me. “Boy, he makes this sound so easy.” I thought as I made my way to the stern.

As I sat on the edge I braced myself for snorkeling with sharks. I wasn’t sure how this would go. Would I feel claustrophobic behind the mask, breathing through a tube? Thinking of Lake Michigan, I wondered how cold the water would be as I leaned over the turquoise ripples. I couldn’t see the bottom through the dancing tendrils of light and water. What else could be hidden beneath surface?

With my swim fins fluttering, I splashed into the water attempting to keep my snorkel dry. The soft water wrapped me warmly. It wasn’t cold at all! The tangy salt on the snorkel gave me a moment of pause as I wondered how these mouthpieces get cleaned.

I glided easily over the surface with my flippers providing smooth movement. The salt water had provided buoyancy. This was the easiest swim I’ve ever experienced! Now that my ‘test drive’ was successful, I made my way around the stern to the shiver of sharks.

As I placed my face into the water a secret world came into view. Seagrass danced below me as I rounded the back of the boat. Along the opposite side the cluster of sharks folded and twisted over each other in hope of a snack. These creatures were larger up close. I laughed nervously in amazement and water immediately leaked into the bottom of my mask filling my nose.

With a sense of panic I lifted my head and pulled my mask with my hands to release the liquid. Replacing my face in the water, I marveled at the expanse of space which is unseen from above. “You can breathe.” I reminded myself. “You can breathe.” I tried to inhale and exhale more steadily.

Using my arms I moved backward away from the sharks, making sure I was keeping my distance. Brightly colored fish cut through their secret space with contentment and peacefulness. Conch shells were tucked among the seaweed along the sandy floor.

A rumble of an engine chattered nearby and the sharks began to follow the sound. As they disbursed, one swam under me. It’s length stretched below my body with a whoosh of its tail. As a thrill zinged through my limbs, I chortled out loud. Water crept over my nose again. This time I blew out through my nostrils, releasing the dampness. I didn’t want to take my eyes off these creatures as they cleared the space around me.

As the sharks moved to the next boat, I breathed a bit more smoothly. This had been exhilarating, but I can not lie, I was glad it was over! With this freedom, I began concentrating on my mermaid swimming skills. Fluttering both fins together sliced the water elegantly! I could have swam longer, but it was time to go to our next stop, the conch shell reserve.

Holding onto the ladder, I removed one fin at a time and handed it to the guide. Then, I climbed into the vessel. Surprisingly, there wasn’t the ‘Michigan Chill’ or the ‘towel burrito’ needed following our swim.

Conch Shell Snorkeling

Our next stop was a protected area we named the “Conch Shell Condo” neighborhood. It is where a variety of marine life have taken up residence. Tiny creatures crawled along their homes in this shallow part of the sea.

Suddenly, a long, brown shark came into view. Again, my involuntary noises caused water to creep into my mask. I lifted my head to inform the group by pointing as I cleared my nose. “Ark! Ark!” I managed to utter through my snorkel. By the time I peeked back into the current, the shark’s tail had disappeared from view. His speed and focus was impressive and had nothing to do with me. I was just a mere dribble in this vast ocean environment.

I wish I had an underwater camera to show you these incredible sites! The ocean is an amazing environment! I encourage you to snorkel!

The Coral Reef

Our third stop would include a swim out to the second largest coral reef in the world. Spanning as far as we could see, a line of tumbled waves marked the boarder of living coral.

As I entered the water, I inhaled some salt water through my snorkel. Clearing my lungs became a chore of coughing. When our guide, Job, explained that the current could make our swim challenging, I decided to stay at the boat with Aaron.

The group began their trek as I regained a regular rhythm of breathing. Aaron suddenly pointed to the water, “It’s a spotted eagle ray!” He said excitedly. Through the rippled surface, it was difficult to make out the shape of this large creature. It slid by stealthily. “I bet they’re seeing some amazing sites!” I commented regretting my decision to remain aboard.

“The return swim was against the current, so it was more difficult.” The group agreed when they returned. This had made me feel better about my decision as I was still wheezing a bit.

Snorkeling Snacks!

Following our swimming, Job and Aaron brought out a table with fruit, cookies, chips and salsa. A cooler held beverage offerings. We broke bread with our fellow swimmers: Gina, Oncore, Jose and Margie.

“Oh, you hadn’t been snorkeling before?” Job nodded to me as I shared how I needed to keep clearing my mask. “Well, you’re suppose to keep your lips pursed like this.” He squeezed his mouth tightly in a straight line, sticking out his lips. “And you’re not suppose to jump in with your snorkel in your mouth either.” a fellow snorkeler added.

Reflections

Belizeans are ‘get it done’ kind of people. They don’t scurry and worry about details. They charge forward and are resilient. As much as I prefer explicit directions, by just doing a task allows one to learn on the spot. It’s a direct approach and it works!

I could not have imagined the mysteries that were under the glistening, rippled surface of the sea. Peeking into the vast ocean and floating alongside a shiver of sharks stretched my comfort boundaries. I treasure these memorable sights and the accomplishment of achieving this snorkeling adventure. Thank you, Chuck (DaViking) for this trip! Thank you, Job and Aaron from the Matachica Resort for making this possible!

Resources:

Aaron and Job, our guides from The Matachica Resort

Matachica Resort and Spa website