Sand between your toes, the sun on your back,
and the blue-green of a tropical sea.
Wrap yourself in a daydream and relax.
The first time I ever tried snorkelling was nearly the last. No one showed me how to ensure that the snorkel fitted properly, and within seconds I was coughing out seawater and desperately trying to understand the appeal. I was persuaded to re-don mask and snorkel and put my face back down in the water. I’m glad I did.
I usually prefer mountains to beaches, but this particular beach was a short swim from a coral reef. I’ve been an avid fan of natural history programmes since I was a child, so the chance to (literally) immerse myself in one of nature's most stunning ecosystems was too good to miss.
The experience of floating above intricately sculpted corals and shimmering fish is magical, but it is even better if it is followed by the experience of stepping out of crystal waters onto a sunlit beach and walking on soft white sand. Unless of course, one stops to think about where the sand came from.
