Enlightening Shark Encounter Facing my worst fear becomes a treasured memory…
By Susan (coward) Campbell
I was delighted to be invited to write about the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. Coming from central Canada, I knew little about marine life, but was very eager to learn. I didn't realize what this kind of learning entailed. I am not a “fish person”. I don't eat fish, and most importantly, I do not swim anywhere near where I suspect fish might be lurking. But before I could say, “You've got the wrong writer!” I was booked in the Animal Encounters Adventure to HAND FEED SHARKS the very next day. What on earth was I thinking? - I sat in the quiet cool of the underwater observatory an hour before to get a closer look at what I was up against. A steely-eyed barracuda snaked up to the glass in front of me, “I'll be waiting for you!” he said in my head. Two things to remember - Despite my brain screaming at me to take a quick sprint in the other direction, I arrived on time. Erwin Curiel, my personal instructor, presented me with a bucket of dead fish. They stared up at me in reproach. I tried to pay attention to his instructions but only managed to retain two things I thought might be most important: “Hold the fish like this to keep your fingers intact,” and “This is the hand sign that means trouble.” Half an hour later, we submerged. I won't let go – I was told underwater breathing would be noisy, I wasn't told it would sound like Darth Vader having an asthma attack. I jettisoned out of the water. “I can't do this!” I cried. “Sure you can,” Erwin said. “Relax.” There was no frustration in his eyes, only patience. “Take my hand,” he said, “I won't let go.” He then brought me down. I noticed something different in his eyes… pain! I was crushing his fingers in a death grip. I let go.
A whole new world - I must admit I was astounded by my surroundings. It truly is another world… magnificent and incredible. Neon tropical fish were spiraling all around me. I could feel my fear taking a back seat to curiosity. Fish, smish! Sensing my newfound bravery might be fleeting, Erwin led me directly to the sharks. Okay, so there is a clear wall between us, but I still had to stick MY HANDS through a little hole! As I did, two nurse sharks (whom I now call “Fric” and “Frac”) made a mad dash for it. These babies suction the fish right out of your hand like super-powered vacuum cleaners. Just as I was getting the hang of it, Erwin signaled me to feed the more menacing lemon sharks. Finally, a huge, gray torpedo came zooming at me so suddenly that I threw the fish at him. As he was about to close his gaping jaw full of jagged teeth, Fric and Frac, (I'm not sure which) head butted him right out of the way. The poor “lemon head” never knew what hit him. I laughed, choked, and realized that laughing underwater is not smart. Smirking is fine. Underwater Nirvana Next, I fed adorable sea turtles, got close to Southern Stingrays while Erwin played with them, and actually chased down some smiling parrotfish to get a closer look. Because I was too much of a coward at first, I ran out of time and didn't get a change to explore the shipwreck and examine the coral reef but I vowed, next visit, I won't waste my oxygen on fear. I thank Erwin profusely and promise to beat him down to the bottom next time. “I'll be waiting for you,” he said-- not sounding at all like a barracuda. My entire incredible experience was recorded on videotape which I now replay constantly to remind myself that I actually did it. Everyone back home in the great white North suitably impressed!