Imagine blissfully snorkeling in the calm, clear waters off Florida’s Key West…soaking up the sight of colorful fish and amazing coral formations…and suddenly encountering a shark.

Yes, to my left (and perhaps ten feet below me—I found it hard to judge distance) a shark was lazily making its way from behind some coral that I had been approaching for a closer look.

At first I didn’t believe what I was seeing and then I immediately (and briefly) stuck my head out of the water to see how close the nearest person was to me in case I should need help. Visions of having a limb (or two) ripped off my body, me screaming for help and taking in mouthfuls of salt water, miraculously making it to the boat and having a tourniquet frantically wrapped around my severed leg and me passing in and out of delirium all the while praying I’d get to the hospital on time…well all those images flashed through my brain in a split second. (Perhaps it sounds a bit dramatic, but I had never seen a shark in any water I was swimming in—and let me just say it’s a rather frightening, and at the same time a curiously exciting, sight!)

None of the swimmers were close enough to hear me (even if I could have choked out a sound) so I knew I had to deal with this shark myself.

When I stuck my head back in the water, I froze and floated and watched. The shark easily glided about the reef and to my surprise it didn’t even pay any attention to me! Not daring to move, I watched it glide out of my eyesight and then I went in search of my husband to tell him the amazing and confusing news (guess I was brave by this point).

I must have seen the movie Jaws too many times because I just assumed the shark would have attacked…well Ok, at least shown an interest in me!

Together my hubby and I were unable to relocate the shark (and I was starting to wonder if he even believed I had seen one). Still, I was relieved when he told me the kids had already returned to the Tiki boat.

So there we were, looking for a shark and pointing out one amazing sight after another to each other.

Once everyone was back on board the boat, the fellow from England (an experienced snorkeler and diver) said, “Did anyone else see the shark?”

“Yes” I exclaimed, knowing my sighting had been validated. Turns out he had watched the shark (which he said was a harmless nurse shark) for ten minutes as it fed among the coral. (Now I wish I had asked him what it ate.) And together we declared the shark to be AT LEAST 7-feet long! Only the two of us had seen it.

Ok…I didn’t exactly stare death in the face, but still…it WAS spooky!

And yes, also an unforgettable Key experience!

Melanie Hack
Author of Who Killed My Sister, My friend
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