I press myself into my seat hoping to disappear completely. I fumble for my sunglasses and slide them onto my face. She won’t remember my name, I reassure myself. She won’t hate me for taking her first-class seat. She won’t notice that I’m now going by Millie. For the first time in my life, I’m thankful for how unremarkable I look. Dark curly hair and light eyes, full cheeks, average height. There are a million people that look like me. Plus, I switched into my jean shorts at the airport, so I’m not even wearing the same outfit.

She doesn’t appear to have changed and is now sporting the silk scarf stylishly knotted around her neck, somehow not looking like she just walked off a flight. Her companion is slightly bent over, panting, and she edges around him to perch on the edge of a bench in the shade. She gives the group of us a little wave, and I notice as her gaze lingers on angry suntan man. Then her gaze passes to me, and I sink further back into my seat just as her companion fumbles with his box and it thuds to the floor.

‘Shit!’ he exclaims loudly. Angry suntan man rises from his seats to lend a hand, but the man waves him away. Vanessa sternly lets him know that the captain’s room is no place for his camera. Following Vanessa’s instructions, he fumbles his camera down the stairs to stow it below deck. I think about the little black waterproof camera Millie gave me. What could possibly be in this guy’s box?

When he appears back on deck, our dive group is finally all together. Camera man and the scarf lady, the two lovebirds across the way, angry suntan man, and me.

The couple across from me finish their paperwork right when Vanessa bounds back up the stairs. I wait while they hand her their clipboards and then force myself to spring into action the way that Millie would. Typically, I would introduce myself last, I’m not the most overeager socialiser. But Millie would want to chat immediately, and being friendly with everyone will help me when I eventually ask them to keep an eye out for the butterfly wrasse. ‘The more eyes watching, the better,’ Millie drilled into me before I left.

‘I’m Millie,’ I announce, jumping up from my chair.

‘Hello! I’m Pippa,’ the girl says with an easy grin. She has a soft British accent and seems kind. I like her immediately. ‘This is my boyfriend,’ she announces, turning to the man next to her.

‘Andrew,’ he says. He has a deep voice and a strong stance, like he’s preparing to captain the boat in an emergency. I flash them both the biggest grin I can muster.