What an awesome day! It’s been awhile since I’ve been able to swim into the depths of the tropical waters in the Pacific and enjoy the treasures of the sea. Today, we dove the anemone coral head near third island off the island of Roi-Namur, had some lunch in the shelter of sixth island (the traditional “boat float” area for the residents), and then we dove the Japanese Zero. The coral heads in the area absolutely teem with life! From the tiniest “Nemo” clownfish hiding in an anemone built inside a broccoli shaped head of hard coal to the baby shark checking out the funny looking creatures swimming around his territory, the diving out here is so clear, warm, and alive, it’s hard to want to dive anywhere else, especially considering the inexpensive cost of diving off these shores versus Hawaii, Australia, or other touristy dive spots in the world.
As for the Japanese Zero, this is a plane that crashed upside down on the sea floor and at some point cracked in half and the back end landed upside down over the top half. It’s in about 60 feet of water, and if you know where to find the landing gear wheel with a rope attached, then that rope will lead you right to the plane. It was my second time on the wreck, but of course, different things stand out in your memory each time you dive it. This time, what stood out most to me was how the sea takes over and builds something new and vibrant in the midst of great tragedy and trauma to the ocean itself and to the world or a least a portion of it. Someone was lost in the plane crash, and we pay homage to that sacrifice. Fortunately, beautiful things have grown out of that loss. All over the wreck, coral has attached itself and grown like underwater flowers to mark the gravesite, fish use the inside of the ripped up metal fuselage as a safe hiding place from their predators, and life continues to grow and develop right on top, beside, and inside the wreck.
There’s one spot out in front and to the right side of the plane that looks like it could be a part of the wing that slammed into the ocean floor and broke off. It is bent and stands up above the rest of the small coral heads, but as you look closer, you see it has become a “man-made” piece of coral for the fish to chow on later. A fairly large coral head has grown right on top of it, so that you couldn’t even move the metal wing piece if you wanted to.
Life out of the ruins. I like that. That seems to be a theme of mine in these journals so far...finding beauty out of ashes and growing stronger despite or through the tough times. The life that Japanese solider sacrificed for his country during WWII can never be replaced, and no one should have to die that way. But the life growing out of, on, and inside that ship is symbolic of all the joy that can be cultivated out of tragedy if you are patient enough to wait for it. Our tragedies can serve to help others find what they need, whether that’s a safe place to rest, gnaw on a piece of coral, or simply to help remind us to hang in there and look for the silver lining in the clouds above.
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