No long, detailed description of an iconic landscape photography location today…I just wanted to share with you a short but sweet encounter I had recently.
Last weekend, my wife Anita and I drove down to Pompano Beach for a day of scuba diving. Oddly enough, although we live in Florida, we rarely dive here…most of our dives are in the Caribbean which is close and cheap.
However, we might rethink that strategy because of a wonderful experience: We ran across a young Green Sea Turtle got to swim with him for an hour or two. Okay, okay…it was really less than two minutes, but it seemed longer!)
So, my Dive Buddy (Anita) and I were diving on a shallow reef called the ‘Nursery’ off of Pompano Beach. It is a shallow reef and frankly, the visibility was only so-so. I’m starting to think, “Yup, this is why we don’t dive in Florida” and I happened to glance to my right and noticed this little guy (gal?) calmly swimming right along beside me…
Anita spotted him at the same moment and swam over to take a peek…
We slowly swam together in formation like a squadron of old biplanes as I happily popped off shot after shot of our new dive buddy..
But it didn’t take long for our new little friend to get bored with our effort at Synchronized Swimming. He veered away from Anita and headed right at me…
For a moment I thought he was going to hit my camera housing before he gracefully swooshed below me and out to the deep blue.
Anita and I hovered there for a moment or two and did our best to smile underwater with regulators jammed in our mouths (trust me, it’s difficult to do!)
Now, this was nothing more than a common, simple, chance encounter. But I’m reminded of the old saying: “Life Is Not Measured By the Number of Breaths We Take, But By the Moments That Take Our Breath Away ”
Jeff
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Views: 38
Sharon
27 Aug 2016What a treat to see your beautiful photos. Thanks
Jeff Stamer
28 Aug 2016Glad you enjoyed my images Sharon!
Linda
27 Aug 2016Any chance you would give me permission to use some of your sea turtle photos as references for my watercolor paintings? I love your “encounter” as you describe it! The photos are amazing!
Jeff Stamer
28 Aug 2016Hi Jean,
I just checked out your website and was very impressed with your talent. Maybe you could do a watercolor for me in exchange? I’d love to give my wife a watercolor for our anniversary of her and a turtle!
Ed Rosack
24 Aug 2016Great photos once again, Jeff!
Jeff Stamer
24 Aug 2016Thanks Ed…it always means a lot coming from you my friend!