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{quotes align=right}We were about even with Rutland Point when the bay became noticeably shallow. The water was swimming pool clear, and I couldn't wait to get in. Slowing we could see how the low tide exposed pieces of the reef like dark rocks in the dessert. Famous Vincent dropped anchor and began to hand out the gear.{/quotes}

Scott and Deb had their own equipment, Dee and I donned flippers, mask and snorkel. I put on a life jacket since I am not so comfortable in open water. I looked pretty stupid, but felt safe as I jumped off the boat. Famous Vincent gave us a few snorkel pointers, and soon we were headed towards the reef.

Focused on breathing through the snorkel, and trying to keep up with the better swimmers, I had to suppress a gasp when I looked down to see the reef spread out before me, Wow. Small schools of colorful little fish just below me, bigger ones below them, and spiny urchins filled nooks and crannies.

"Awesome!" I hear Dee's voice above water, I look over to see Famous Vincent in the midst of a hundred yellow fish with bright blue stripes, but before I got there Dee and Famous Vincent were back under water. I drew closer to see Famous Vincent stuffing something into Dee's hand, as she extended her arm she was swarmed by the same hungry fish, she was actually laughing under water.

We swam a few yards towards a larger reef structure when Famous Vincent came close to me and stuffed some bread he had in a zip-lock bag into my hand. Within a few seconds little fishes we everywhere, totally obscuring my vision, soft little mouths nipping toothlessly at my fingers. What a rush! When the bread was gone I spun around, fish everywhere, I was like a kid at a petting zoo.

"Woo Hoo! That was sooo cool!" I shouted surfacing. Dee was beaming, the water sparkling in her eyes, the ear to ear grin, totally unguarded.

A second later we dove back under water following Famous Vincent through a maze of coral mountains. The reef tops were so close to the surface that we had to swim around, and through them. We were in the reef more intimately than I'd imagined. Nearer to the bottom darker colored fish poked their heads out from under ridges to check us out.

I started thinking Moray Eel as hours of Discovery Channel warnings streamed through my brain: Don't touch the coral; Watch out for Jellyfish; Don't eat yellow snow...