Adventures in Snorkeling / January 16, 2008
Brian and I were snorkeling in Cahuita, a beach town on the Caribbean of Costa Rica. I was enjoying the fish and clear blue water, until it became so shallow that I feared for my life. We were 10 inches above fire coral. I panicked. In the midst of trying to get to deeper water, I accidentally swatted my hand on a big, black, sea urchin. I immediately felt a sharp pain in my fingers.
My hand was paralyzed with a numbing sensation, as if 20 wasps dug into my skin. I was yelling for help, but all I could do is swim with one hand to our boat.
I made it to the boat in near tears. Ulyses, our guide, looked at my hand and said “Ohh no…Sooo many urchins in the fingas!”
Brian then asked, “Is it poisonous?” I hit him with my good hand, and told him to shut up. I don’t want to know if I’m dying, I just want to make the pain go away.
Ulyses shared a secret remedy with us that day…urine. I had to pee on my hand. “Gross,” I thought, but I’ll do it!
We pulled the boat over in order to do my thing. However, I was still in shock. I couldn’t even get a drop of pee out, so Brian, the good boyfriend that he is, took charge.
“I’ll do it!” Brian exclaimed. “I got you in this mess, I’ll get you out!” Families were all around when the debacle happened, but I wasn’t too worried about the audience. Parents held their kids back in dismay as I put my hand in his swimming trunks. As Brian peed, the throbbing in my fingers subsided. I was beyond elated. “It worked!” I screamed.
We returned to the boat. I told the tour guide we shouldn’t stop snorkeling on account of me. Everyone nodded their heads. So we found another spot, somewhere far away from the last place.
A half hour later I mustered up the courage to put on my snorkeling gear and get back in the water. I was terrified. I was doing fine, until I saw a sea urchin. I immediately swam back to the boat, like a little baby. That was enough adventure for one day.
Maybe I’ll try snorkeling next year. Actually, maybe I’ll just find another activity.
Dina Karkar,
Timonium, MD
Posted by Rachel
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