Enlightening Shark Encounter Facing my worst fear becomes a treasured memory…
By Susan (coward) Campbell
I was delighted to be invited to write about the Curaçao Sea Aquarium. Coming from central Canada, I knew little about marine life, but was very eager to learn. I didn't realize what this kind of learning entailed. I am not a “fish person”. I don't eat fish, and most importantly, I do not swim anywhere near where I suspect fish might be lurking. But before I could say, “You've got the wrong writer!” I was booked in the Animal Encounters Adventure to HAND FEED SHARKS the very next day. What on earth was I thinking? - I sat in the quiet cool of the underwater observatory an hour before to get a closer look at what I was up against. A steely-eyed barracuda snaked up to the glass in front of me, “I'll be waiting for you!” he said in my head. Two things to remember - Despite my brain screaming at me to take a quick sprint in the other direction, I arrived on time. Erwin Curiel, my personal instructor, presented me with a bucket of dead fish. They stared up at me in reproach. I tried to pay attention to his instructions but only managed to retain two things I thought might be most important: “Hold the fish like this to keep your fingers intact,” and “This is the hand sign that means trouble.” Half an hour later, we submerged. I won't let go – I was told underwater breathing would be noisy, I wasn't told it would sound like Darth Vader having an asthma attack. I jettisoned out of the water. “I can't do this!” I cried. “Sure you can,” Erwin said. “Relax.” There was no frustration in his eyes, only patience. “Take my hand,” he said, “I won't let go.” He then brought me down. I noticed something different in his eyes… pain! I was crushing his fingers in a death grip. I let go.