Decked out in snorkel equipment and wetsuit—getting into and out of which was admittedly the most challenging aspect of the whole experience–I entered the 200,000-gallon coral reef tank. It was filled with large and small residents—more than 50 species of fish, sharks, and eels—into whose life I was about to intrude at the Aquarium Encounters complex in Marathon, Florida.
In the tank, I swam with tarpon, common snook, French grunts, permit fish, horse-eyed jack, and assorted friends. The cownose rays were especially playful. At every turn I was greeted by another underwater inhabitant: puffers, porcupine and butterfly fish, snappers and groupers—not that I really had any idea as to their individual identities at the time.
The sharks here are behind a Plexiglas shield and fed through small holes, so I carefully followed the instructions on how the feeding was to be done.
Instructor Dan intoned, “I'll open the window and see how fast you guys can swim.”
“Cool,” said my ever-eager 10-year-old snorkel companion. Fortunately, his shark-challenged swimming capabilities remained untested.
