Time ticks by. I stare at the coral, wondering if I would have a better chance if I swam around it or stayed put. Hugh is swimming in gentle circles around the coral I’m hovering over, every now and then taking an interest in something else. I hear the clang of Vanessa’s carabiner. This can’t be it. The trip can’t be over.

Tears sting my eyes as I turn to swim away, accepting defeat. I’m making my way to Vanessa when I realise I forgot to make sure Hugh was behind me.

I turn around to see Hugh hovering, motionless, in the spot I had just vacated. His attention is snapped to something, but I can’t quite make out what it is. My heart starts beating faster.

I kick towards Hugh slowly, barely breathing. About two feet underneath his nose are three fish, little, no bigger than my palm. Bright, fluorescent purple, almost magenta. There is a yellow stripe down their backs. I’m terrified to look, but I cast my gaze towards their underbellies. Sure enough, there is a tiny fin moving back and forth, helping keep the fish stationary.

I don’t even want to blink in case I miss them. I carefully manoeuvre until I’m right next to Hugh, who is spellbound, staring at the three little fish nosing around the staghorn coral. The butterfly wrasse. I finally found them. I have full tears running down my cheeks now, fogging up my mask. This is it! I think, forcing myself into action. I use every ounce of my concentration not to move, lest I scare the fish. I press the button on my camera.

Chapter 26

Just as I’m taking the photo, all the fish dart away from me. Impossibly quick, so quick that what happens doesn’t register until I’ve turned around in confusion.

Hugh has backpedalled and is hovering right behind me.

I feel fury building in my brain like a pressure cooker. He moved?! He scared away the FISH! My brain goes a thousand miles a minute. Did Hugh sabotage me on purpose? He wouldn’t dare . . . would he? But Hugh is turning around too, like he’s just as confused as I am.

Over his shoulder, I see what really spooked the fish. A massive potato cod swims close by, with Vanessa and Derek trailing behind it. Vanessa must have tapped her carabiner to call attention to the cod. Potato cod can grow up to five feet long, this one is probably about that size, and are known for being inquisitive and playful, as well as for the potato-shaped markings on their skin. Most likely, the movement of the cod, Derek and Vanessa made the fish jumpy. I watch the cod as it passes, its mouth opening and closing in cartoon fashion.