In Tears of Blue – A Day When the Sea Touched My Heart 🧡

The day was all about diving – at Mackay Reef. (Also this time snorkeling)

Everything else was secondary.

What I experienced there is hard to put into words – and yet it must be captured. The first snorkeling dive lasted about an hour. Time lost all meaning underwater. Mackay Reef opened a world that was so intense it felt almost unreal.

Colors in a density and clarity that cannot be described: ochre and yellow tones in countless shades, vibrant green, but above all blue – every conceivable variant. Those who know me understand what that does to me. Life was everywhere. Every stone felt alive, everything was in motion. Fish in a variety that you only know from movies. 'Finding Nemo' is the only comparison that comes close – and even that feels too small. The same shapes, the same patterns, but always new: in red, in green, in blue, in combinations that the eye can hardly sort.

And then there was this one fish. Very large. I consciously refrain from any exaggeration – it was just impressive.

At some point, I noticed tears coming to my eyes underwater. Not from fear, not from being overwhelmed, but from sheer beauty. That was new for me. A silent, very personal moment. I was right in the midst of it, surrounded by fish as if I were part of this world. You don't forget that.

I was the last to be brought back, simply because I had lost track of time. When we surfaced, everyone immediately wanted to know how it was. I couldn't speak. I needed silence to not lose that feeling right away. One thought was very clear: Thank you for allowing me to experience this.

The second dive was more technical, focused on facts. Very good briefings, high focus on safety. The mask didn’t fit perfectly, but the organization and professionalism were at a high level. Before the first snorkeling, there was a short report from a biologist – interesting, but not emotionally comparable to what came next. Later, we were taken to small islands for photos, which was also a special moment.

Fatigue came quietly. Snorkeling is easily underestimated. On the boat, I had briefly fallen asleep; the rocking played its part. Ginger against seasickness, tired faces everywhere – even among the younger ones. This shared exhaustion had something bonding about it.

Only at the very end of the day did we sit together. All a bit drained, all satisfied. There was casual joking and laughter – among other things about the story with the cherries that others wanted to throw away and that I ate. A brief, humorous moment, detached from the actual day. Just closeness, a shared inhale.

Now I let the pictures speak. Many pictures. Without big texts, without explanation. The colors, the fish, this incredible liveliness – Mackay Reef cannot be described, only experienced. And amidst all the beauty, it remains clear: This is nature, not a backdrop. Jellyfish, sharks, crocodiles – respect is always part of it.

An extraordinary day. One of those that stay with you.