Growing up in Rhode Island we spent a lot of time at the beach and never paid much attention to what was in the water with us. At every opportunity we were off to the ocean to play in the surf. As a child I did not think much about the creatures that shared the water with us until the movie Jaws was released. For months afterwards I looked at the ocean in a different light and with a new found respect for the creatures that swam along the beaches. I vowed that after seeing that movie I would never swim at night in the ocean. That being said my love of the ocean continues to this day and while middle aged I feel like a kid every time I am in the surf.
My daughter Sarah also spending a lot of time at the beach shares the same passion for the ocean that I do. Since she was three, Sarah has had the opportunity to share many weeks at the beach on Bald Head Island. At 14, she considers BHI her second home and has spent most of her life swimming in the warm waters of this small barrier island off the coast of North Carolina.
Over the years we have watched fish school along the sand bars just off shore and on a rare occasion we have witnessed a Black Tip or Spinner shark leap out of the water chasing its prey. To us this is one of the reasons that we escape to this island and stand in awe of watching the wildlife make its presence known. Watching a shark chasing its prey in its natural environment is fascinating and we realize that when swimming here we share these waters with these creatures.
Ok, so where am I going with this? Well, last summer I was sitting on the beach and Sarah as usual she was in the water with her surfboard. It was a wonderful day and the surf was running better than usual but was breaking close to shore so the rides were short. Having a wonderful time and as always, shouting from the surf line, “daddy watch me” she prepared to catch another wave. Not paying too much attention I noticed quite a few Pelicans diving around her for dinner. I just thought that the the fish were just schooling against the sand bar as they often did. A moment later though a boil of water erupted within feet of Sarah and a long greyish brown body came exploding out of the surf rolling closer to her before diving beneath her board. Startled I ran to the water calling her in as she began paddling furiously for the beach. It seemed that it took forever for her to reach the shore. Eyes as big as dinner plates and gasping for breath she looked at me trembling and asked, “daddy did you see that”? After a few moments and with the adrenalin rush subsiding Sarah looked at me and said that was really cool! Back in the water the following day I noticed that she kept a close eye on the water where she sitting. Yes, she realized that she was not the only thing in the water and came to understand that she is a guest in the water. While Sarah d has a new found respect for the creatures that live there we still jump in the water in care free way. The ocean is a part of us and our soul and we embrace the diversity of all the creatures that live there.
I write this not to frighten anyone but to share the beauty that we see on this little island. his is why we stay here, this is why we keep coming back.
My daughter Sarah also spending a lot of time at the beach shares the same passion for the ocean that I do. Since she was three, Sarah has had the opportunity to share many weeks at the beach on Bald Head Island. At 14, she considers BHI her second home and has spent most of her life swimming in the warm waters of this small barrier island off the coast of North Carolina.
Over the years we have watched fish school along the sand bars just off shore and on a rare occasion we have witnessed a Black Tip or Spinner shark leap out of the water chasing its prey. To us this is one of the reasons that we escape to this island and stand in awe of watching the wildlife make its presence known. Watching a shark chasing its prey in its natural environment is fascinating and we realize that when swimming here we share these waters with these creatures.
Ok, so where am I going with this? Well, last summer I was sitting on the beach and Sarah as usual she was in the water with her surfboard. It was a wonderful day and the surf was running better than usual but was breaking close to shore so the rides were short. Having a wonderful time and as always, shouting from the surf line, “daddy watch me” she prepared to catch another wave. Not paying too much attention I noticed quite a few Pelicans diving around her for dinner. I just thought that the the fish were just schooling against the sand bar as they often did. A moment later though a boil of water erupted within feet of Sarah and a long greyish brown body came exploding out of the surf rolling closer to her before diving beneath her board. Startled I ran to the water calling her in as she began paddling furiously for the beach. It seemed that it took forever for her to reach the shore. Eyes as big as dinner plates and gasping for breath she looked at me trembling and asked, “daddy did you see that”? After a few moments and with the adrenalin rush subsiding Sarah looked at me and said that was really cool! Back in the water the following day I noticed that she kept a close eye on the water where she sitting. Yes, she realized that she was not the only thing in the water and came to understand that she is a guest in the water. While Sarah d has a new found respect for the creatures that live there we still jump in the water in care free way. The ocean is a part of us and our soul and we embrace the diversity of all the creatures that live there.
I write this not to frighten anyone but to share the beauty that we see on this little island. his is why we stay here, this is why we keep coming back.