Bonaire
The young man stood up in the dive boat and announced to the 16
divers on board,”When I dove this site last week, I lost my
yellow handle dive knife. If anyone finds it I would appreciate
it.”
Setting there on the bench, I remember vividly saying to myself,
“OK I’ll find it.” Not realizing, of course, that
this site could cover a half a square mile or more! Over we went,
to enjoy the wonders of the sea. Leveling off at about 70 ft. on
the side of a sloping mountainside, we cruised slowly along.
Five minutes into the dive, as I crossed over two coral heads,
I looked down, and there was the yellow handle knife! After struggling
a bit to retrieve it, I looked up and there was the owner swimming
by! Catching up with him and tugging on his fin, he looked around,
and I presented him with his knife. He accepted it with as much
thanks that one can give underwater, we proceeded with the dive.
Back on the boat we discussed the odds of such a find, and because
of a twinge of familiarity, we talked of our various locations we
had been diving in the past. As it turned out, he was in St. Thomas
in 1975, and checked out with Armando Jenick, a famous diver in
those parts. Further discussion revealed that he was on the same
dive as I was on when Armando caught a large lobster, and furthermore,
he was right behind me when Armando was stopped by a large barracuda,
until he was able to chase it away.
He also remembered Bonnie, and me cooking the lobster. We had taken
a photo of the operation and when I returned home I looked at the
photo, and there he was!
He also told me that a fellow he was with on that trip gave him
that knife as a present, on that trip.
Talk about one step beyond!
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