Cruising Ibiza

After closing the last few feet to the boat, Matthew reached the ladder of the MY ANDREA and called up, “Anyone home?”

From up on deck there came a call, “Only us sun worshipers. Who are you?”

“Funny. Give me a hand, please.” Clinging to the ladder, Matthew slung his fins up over the top, followed by his goody bag. Hauling himself on up, his mate Patrick was there to help hip with his tank and gear.

“Well, how was it?” Patrick asked.

“Spectacular!” Matthew assured him. His face in a big smile. “When Sandy and Mitchell back in Boston said Spain would be fantastic to come for diving they really knew what they were talking about. Warm, beautiful, painted with all the colors of the rainbow, really beautiful.”

A chubby red-head stepped up and handed Bob a flute of champagne, looking up at Patrick. “We have another convert.”

“Hold this for me, won’t you, Kath?’ Matthew asked. He offered her back the champagne and when she took it, he peeled the top half of his wet suit, letting it settle in a roll of black neoprene at his waist. Standing there with the top half of his torso bare, he hardly looked the driven businessman that he was, he looked more the mature, male, exquisite, model.

A deckhand had assisted Matthew’s dive partner up so the boat was free to lift anchor and head in to dock for the night.

Sipping the champagne Kathy had brought to him, Matthew mused while looking over the stern of the boat, watching just where they had been. “We’re heading into Ibiza?” He asked. “I’ve heard a lot about the entertainment there. “We’ll have to have the crew make sure we make it back to the boat!” he grinned.

The other woman present on the deck laughed and said “You’re bad.”

“Well, if we’re in such a high party experience, aren’t you going to indulge?”

Patrick threw his arm around Matthew’s and the new woman, Brenda’s shoulders. “We’re all going to indulge. Dinner, drinks, some music, dancing… and still the night is young.”

“Ibiza it is, darlings.” Kathy announced.

Ibiza proved to be a late night, as predicted. Partying at Pacha’s, dinner, and drinks, exactly as predicted. Then the real partying began. The group went dancing, and enjoying more champagne, or tequila as the case may be. The night stretched late into the early morning, and the party made it back to the MY ANDREA to go to bed. The crew very nearly had the morning off because the charter guests all slept in.

“Are you ready to go down?” Patrick asked. He and Matthew were suited up and ready to go diving again at the mooring where the MY ANDREA had been anchored for the day. Patrick was easy about the dive, but Matthew was anxious to go. He was a well experienced scuba diver, but these were new waters.

“Ready!” came the response.

Brenda stared at them from behind large, dark lenses. “Are you sure you’re good to go? I mean, if you have a head like mine…”

Kathy walked out of the lounge and straight to Brenda where she held out her hand. “Here. Aspirin.”

Matthew smiled “You couldn’t stop me. How about you, Patrick?”

Patrick nodded. “It’s time to get wet!” and with that, he rolled over the side and into the water.

“Goodbye, ladies.” Matthew said, and followed Patrick over the rail.

The water was warm and felt wonderful. The fish were plentiful and the colors of the coral and plants below were beautiful. It was a great day to dive. Matthew and Patrick followed their own interests. Patrick was picking along the bottom and Matthew was using his camera shooting pictures of the fish.

Suddenly, coming straight out of the murk, was a sand shark. Matthew had a flutter of panic in his belly and he shoved it down, maintaining his composure. He remembered his training and remained calm. The shark continued toward him and he moved slowly trying not to garner undue attention. Then the shark was right there. An 8’ sand shark in his face. Then it continued on by. Matthew reached out and patted the shark twice. It swam away, and Matthew took a deep breath, ready to go back to the boat, having had quite enough excitement for one dive. He swam to get Patrick’s attention and motioned to go back. Patrick responded immediately, understanding that something was happening.

Once back on MY ANDREA Matthew described the encounter.

“Oooh,” Kathy said. “You could have been killed!”

“Not by a shark that size,” she got told with all fake assurance.

Brenda asked who wanted a drink.

“No thanks.” Patrick answered.

“No, no thanks,” Matthew echoed. “Don’t want to be impared.”

Brenda looked at him flatly from her dark lenses. “You can’t mean you want to go back down there!”

“Absolutely, I’ll just make sure I’m carrying my dive knife.”

“And,” Patrick said, “if nothing else, it will always make a great story.”