Angel Negro

The boat was about 10 yards away from the edge of the reef when old man Hawk told the captain: "Good enough!" The captain cut the throttle and signaled to the mate to drop anchor. The anchor and chain splashed into the crystal clear water, and the "Angel Negro" came around slowly as the anchor caught on the sandy bottom. The boy peered over the side and guessed the water to be about 25 feet deep. Old man Hawk had the students re-check their gear and air pressure, review their instructions and drop mask, fins and tanks over the side. He sent the Cheito and his buddy Ñaña over the side first. Cheito nervously took a few breaths, spotted his gear on the bottom and jumped into the water. He swam down to his tank, turned on the air, cleared his regulator, started breathing, grabbed his mask, put it on and cleared it, put the tank on his back, donned his flippers, and kneeled on the sandy floor waiting for the rest of the students to gather around. He breathed easily, watching the bubbles he exhaled rise, expand and burst as they broke through the silvery surface.

Jose M. Caldas, September 20, 2013.