After what must have been about fifteen minutes, the turtles we’d been following got too far ahead of us. I wanted to turn back, so I stopped swimming, lifted my head out of the water and took off my mask. Josh came up next to me and took his off too.

“Wow!” I said, half-smiling, half-laughing. “That’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen. Thank you again for booking this trip for us.”

He swam closer and pulled me to him, our legs entwined underwater. “I’m glad you’re enjoying it. It’s fun watching you have such a good time.” He pulled me closer and kissed me, a kiss that was salty from the seawater and sweet from the cocktails. When he pulled away, he said, “You’re beautiful, do you know that?”

I very much doubted I looked beautiful with wet, salted hair plastered to my head, a snorkelling mask resting on my forehead, and no makeup on, but he looked so earnest I just said, “Thank you.”

“You are. I know you don’t think you are, but your joyfulness—how much you love being here—that’s what makes you beautiful.”

“Oh.” It was a lovely thing to say and I rewarded him with another kiss.

The skipper’s voice called out over the loudspeaker, “Fifteen more minutes, folks, then back in the boat.”

“Let’s find Siobhan,” I said. I started swimming towards the boat, not bothering with my mask and snorkel. I looked for her amongst the other bums in the air, and saw her red swimsuit and black hair floating close to the boat. “There,” I said to Josh and he nodded. We swam over, and I tapped her on the shoulder.

She sputtered a little as she lifted her head out of the water. “Sorry,” I said. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”

She laughed her hearty Siobhan laugh. “Oh, no mind. How brilliant is this, then?” she asked.

“Did you see some turtles?” Josh asked.

“Yes, there’s a bunch right below us.”

“Oh cool.” I pushed my mask down and popped my snorkel in my mouth. Josh and Siobhan did the same and the three of us bobbed next to each other as we watched another pod. I would find out later from a crew member that it’s a “flotilla” of sea turtles. They were my new favourite animal.

We heard the bell ring underwater and lifted our heads. “Time to re-board the boat, folks,” said the skipper. There was a collective groan from the group, as though we were schoolkids and he’d just shortened recess.

We made our way back onto the boat, surrendering our equipment and gathering our things. The bar on the boat was closed, but we promised to meet for a pre-date drink at the resort before Siobhan went out with Paddy.

The rest of the boat trip and the ride in the van were reasonably quiet. It had been a big day—exciting and fun, but also quite tiring. I was looking forward to a long hot shower before we met Siobhan for a drink.