By Caroline Kessler
Alas! We made it to Roatan, Honduras for the final week of our trip. A celebration was definitely in order as we reflected on the past three months. To top it all off, we earned our Lifetime SCUBA Certification, allowing us to explore greater depths all around the world.
In many ways, scuba diving embodied our Carpe Diem Adventure. It was something many of us had been anticipating. We had ideas of what it would be like from videos, studying our books, and even practicing with all of our gear on in a four-foot pool. However, nothing could have compared to the moment when we descended into the deep blue water. Hearts pounding and tanks clinking from the rolling waves that pushed us together made one thing very clear: this was no longer a dream, but a (slightly terrifying) reality.
It seems crazy then to think that all of our panic seemed to float to the surface once we caught a glimpse of what was in store. A sandy white oasis surrounded by magnificent coral reefs, aquatic life, and our group mates awaiting us at the bottom. All we had to do at that point was take a deep breath, apply the skills we learned, and enjoy the exploration.
This week it sunk in that the picture I painted above is the reason why we’re here:
To experience and learn from the unknown, to test our limits only to find out we’re limitless, and to embrace all of the beauty around us, simply by saying “Carpe Diem” a little more often.
Signing out for the last time,
Maya 2017
Aho