10 May 2025
I came to this island with no expectations…
But I certainly didn’t expect to find myself snorkeling in crystal-clear aquamarine waters, swimming with giant sea turtles.
This morning, after breakfast, Lukeman called me over and asked if I’d like to join the guests on today’s Perhentian snorkeling tour. It would be free of charge — part of our volunteer experience, to better understand the activities we recommend to others.
Yes, of course!
Though I haven’t had many chances to snorkel in my life, and I’m not the strongest swimmer, I was far too excited to feel nervous. Besides, I trusted they wouldn’t send me if it wasn’t completely safe.
Within minutes, we were on the boat — wind styling our hair into wild ocean shapes, the sun sparkling on the bright water like liquid light. The islands were alive with activity — it was a long weekend, and tourists were everywhere, boats crisscrossing the horizon like dragonflies.
We came to a stop among a few other boats. People were pointing and chattering — the turtles were here!
My heart leapt as I pulled on my snorkeling mask and climbed down the ladder into the sea. The boatman was already in the water, calling us over, pointing beneath the surface.
I dipped my face into the water… and gasped.
A giant sea turtle grazed peacefully on the ocean floor below me. Another, smaller turtle swam by, completely unbothered by our presence. I floated, suspended between sky and sea, watching in utter awe. It was a moment I’d never even dared to dream of.
And then — magic.
The larger turtle began rising slowly toward the surface, passing just inches from me. Nearly a meter in length, she broke the surface to breathe, then glided silently back down into the deep. I looked over at the boatman — he smiled. I smiled. No words needed. My entire being was lit with pure wonder.
We lingered a while, swimming alongside these gentle ocean elders. They went about their turtle lives, unbothered, sacred, serene.
Eventually, it was time to move on.
At our next two stops, the coral reefs came alive with Nemo families, parrotfish, and rainbows of marine life. It was like diving into a living painting — the kind you only ever see on documentaries. The sea was calm, the snorkeling effortless. By the third stop, I felt completely at home in the water. Whatever hesitation I’d carried was now gone, melted into the waves.
And then… Shark Point.
A flicker of nerves danced with excitement. These were blacktip reef sharks — harmless, they said, uninterested in humans. Safe.
The moment we stopped, I slipped into the water.
I looked down — and there it was.
A shark glided beneath me, making a slow U-turn. Harmless or not, instinct kicked in — my breath caught, my body stiffened. But then I exhaled, reminded myself I was safe, and slowly relaxed. More sharks appeared — some larger, some still babies — all moving gracefully in their underwater domain.
Most of the group made a swift retreat to the boat. But a few of us stayed. The boatman laughed, letting us linger for just a few more moments, chatting with the sharks in silent reverence, before it was time to return.
Now, back on land, my body is tired, and my skin kissed a bit too much by the sun. But my heart?
Overflowing.
I am reminded again and again just how blessed I am — to be here, to feel this, to live these wild and wondrous stories.
These moments are more than fairytales.
They’re soul-treasures…
And I will carry them forever.
