#968 Swim call in the middle of the ocean, out of sight of land

 

Swimming in the Atlantic

On the one hand, it is exhilarating and just plain fun to have a swim call. On the other, the ocean is most definitely not a swimming pool and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer enormity of it and your ship is so small, just floating there with “nothing” underneath it.

From Nelly, Tall Ships America Summer Intern 2009 –

“It’s one thing to swim outside of your swimming distance from land. But, when you cannot see it [land] at all…! Especially when you borrow that kid’s swim goggles and peek down, and the vastness of the ocean opens up. It gives you the heebie-jeebies! Your legs look tiny! Then you look at the the hull of your ship, your huge tall ship that houses you, your friends, enough food to cross the ocean, plus all the equipment, and it’s TINY! I can hardly look! It gives me goosebumps.”

Hull of a boat is seen from underwater-Sami Sarkis

And that is when you realize how amazing your situation is. Yes, you are a tiny object in the middle of the ocean and yes, it can be overwhelming at times. But  this ship, your fellow shipmates, your collective skills, knowledge, and teamwork have tamed Poseiden, at least long enough to let you go for a swim. Awesome.

Thank you, Nelly, for the awesome idea!

Have an idea or a story you want to share? Email it to me at erin@tallshipsamerica.org and I’ll add it to the blog with props to you.

Major credit to 1000 Awesome Things for the inspiration