Utila – Week 8, Day 2: Beyond the Bubbles
UTILA
Week 8
Day 2: Beyond the Bubbles
January 02, 2022
When I woke up, I could hardly believe the day we’d have to leave had come. Again, knowing Amelia would be accompanying me on this trip made it feel unbelievably better. We were in this together, it wasn’t just me on my own!
After getting fully packed and ready to go, we stepped outside the dorm – now a desolate and empty room, to find Adah, who popped by to say goodbye. Upon seeing her face, I nearly broke down. I was gonna miss her so damn much. Then Omar came along, and I had to give it all I had not to break down. Then Doro, then Aviv, then Jodie. We headed to the dock where the rest of them were prepping for the morning dives. One last goodbye hug to Captain Hoover, Rachel and Madeline, and that was that.
I honestly have no idea how I managed to get myself to leave. Loaded up with our huge bags, we left Underwater Vision one last time.
That's a Wrap!
We walked down the main road we had trodden so, so many times and made our way to the ferry, stumbling upon Ava on the way, who, it turns out, was leaving Utila on the same ferry.
When we got there, Dr Marius was waiting for us. I couldn’t believe the pain I felt when saying goodbye to him. It felt like I was being ripped apart from my own brother. He said he’d try his best to join us in Nicaragua, at least for a short while, and if not, he’d definitely meet us somewhere in Europe. Midway through our hugs and heartfelt goodbyes, the ferry attendant rushed us along the line to board.
Just like that, we bid farewell to the place we had come to call home. Goodbye Underwater Vision, goodbye family, and goodbye Utila. Thank you for everything – you have changed my life forever and impermeably.
Stay wild,
Marius
Post-Scriptum
One ferry ride later, and the island of dreams had become yet another memory. A memory that would probably fade away with time – the tiny details falling through the cracks, just like a handful of sand that filters through the fingers, disappearing little by little.
This is why I wanted to write down everything. I don’t want to ever forget a single thing. Even back then, I was very conscious that those would be the good old days, that the present would be the past all too soon. I wanted my memories of these indescribable two months to be entirely etched into my brain.