"It's not unheard of to see them here inside the reef, but it doesn't happen often.Do we have the camera with us?"Marta asked Cici as she opened up the captain's seat, looking for it.
"Here it is!"Marta pulled out an underwater camera rig with giant lights attached."It's ready to go too.Cici, do you want to go in, or should I?"
"WAIT!You're going to go in with a shark?"Gray couldn't believe what he was hearing.Why weren't they scared?
"Gray, you've got a lot to learn.Sharks are integral to the ocean, and there are hundreds of species.Typically, they only have bad interactions with humans who are doing something stupid," Cici said as she took off her tank top and shorts, preparing to get into the water.
"I do not know about sharks, so I'll trust you, but is this wise?"Gray asked, still worried but realizing his concern wasn't necessary.
"I'm good.Pass me the camera, please."Cici had already slipped effortlessly into the water and was holding onto the side of the boat.Marta handed her the camera and then went back to the gears, setting the boat on a slow course to follow the shark.Gray watched in amazement as the shark continued on its way, oblivious to the boat.
"This is good.I can get some nice shots from here," Cici said as she adjusted the camera to focus on the shark below.Gray crawled back to the side of the boat where Cici was and noticed she had looped a rope around her waist to prevent herself from drifting away while snapping photos.Clearly, this wasn't her first time doing this.
"Gray, if you'd like to see the shark better, you can put on a dive mask.The shark won't see you and come over," Marta suggested with a smile, handing him a dive mask.Gray, curious, dipped the mask in the water to clear it and prevent fogging.
"I would like to see it better.Where should I go?"Gray asked as he prepared to put on the mask.
"Over here, lean over the back where the dive deck is, and put your face in the water.You'll get a good view.I'm going to move the boat a bit more to follow it," Marta said as she walked back to the controls and crept the boat forward.As Gray put his face in the water, it was like entering another world.The colours seemed brighter, and there was a pattern of stripes on the shark's skin.He knew the skin felt like sandpaper from spending summer camp at the aquarium as a kid, hanging out at the touch pool all day.Even from this distance, he could see a few remoras attached to it.These small suckerfish help keep the shark's skin free from parasites and eat any scraps left behind.
"I can't believe this!It's so freaking cool!!"Gray exclaimed as he raised his head, his dark hair flopping onto his forehead in wet strands.His eyes sparked with excitement.Why had he ever been afraid?The tiger shark wasn't terrifying; it was gigantic, powerful, and did not care a bit about them or the dolphins that had raced back home.
As Gray moved back toward the centre of the boat, Cici appeared on the dive deck.She hoisted the camera up first, then pulled herself out of the water in one fluid motion."I think I got some incredible shots!What a beauty!"she said as she shook her hair out."Pretty sure it's the same lovely lady we spotted a few months ago.Those notches on her fins are hard to miss.Marta, can you note our position and the time?I'll check these against the old photos later.If it's her, we'll need to let the shark researchers know she's back in the area."
"On it," Marta said quickly, jotting down the coordinates and time in her notebook.shook
As she worked, the radio crackled to life.
"Seagull 1, Seagull 1, this is Lagoon.Come in."
Marta grabbed the receiver and pressed the button."Lagoon, this is Seagull 1.What can we do for you?Over."
"Seagull 1, are you perhaps missing two dolphins?About eight feet long, 600 pounds each, and devilishly handsome?Over."
Marta snorted and covered the mic, even though the button had to be pressed for the radio to transmit."Well, shit.We forgot to tell them the boys were on their way back home."She and Cici burst into laughter, their easy camaraderie filling the boat.
Gray, standing nearby and dripping seawater from his head, laughed in disbelief.How were they so relaxed?
Marta pressed the button again."Lagoon, this is Seagull 1.Yes, we seem to be missing two very good-looking boys, but we still have researcher Gray with us.So, we're counting today as a win.We're heading home now.Over."
Both women dissolved into laughter again, and even Gray couldn't help but smile.These people were completely unfazed by everything, and it was rubbing off on him.He was going to like it here—a lot.
Chapter 21
Training session
AstheboatwithMarta, Cici, and Gray turned back into the Lagoon's jetty, Gray noticed the big tourist catamaran docked.The boat captains were lounging in the seats; all the tourists were down at the floating platform.
Cici once again confidently jumped out of the boat while Marta maneuvered it alongside the dock so Cici could tie it up.Feeling more confident, Gray went to the back of the boat and tossed the rope to Cici as Marta cut the engine.As Cici was finishing securing the boat, Declan appeared from the fish house with a cooler and headed down the ramp towards their boat.
"So how was it, Gray?First time in the ocean with Abaco and Anejo is a thrill."Declan was smiling at them all, but Gray noticed a quick sidelong glance that Declan gave Cici, and he wondered if they were a couple.
"I don't think I can put into words what I experienced.Y'all are so lucky you get to do this every day."As Gray said this, the three trainers all nodded, knowing he was right; they were incredibly lucky.
"Who's cooler is that?"Cici pointed at the fish cooler Declan was carrying as Marta passed Cici the still full fish coolers from Abaco and Anejo.
"Luna's last session cooler, Daniel had to leave early to meet the plane with the fish shipment, so I am on standby to help Riley with the last program with Nemo and Phoenix."At this, all three trainers again nodded their heads knowingly.
"Is something up with Nemo and Phoenix?"Gray asked no one in particular but hoping for an answer.
