A SCARY EVENT

MAYBE TOO ACCOMMODATING
      The last day camping with a group in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico we returned to Los Isolates for a final swim with the sea lions. Accommodating one of the swimmer’s request, the guide dropped anchor on the windward side of the island. Big mistake!
      I was the first one in the water and before I even came up for air a terrific surface current had swept me to the end of the island! One of the fellows was right behind me. We swam over to the island and hung on for awhile.
      I said, “Wow, I had visions of landing on that island over there.”
      As my roommate floated by. I waved frantically yelling, “Come over here.”
     “I can’t, the current is too strong!.”
     “The current’s a lot less here. Swim over,” I yelled.
      She did, and while the three of us clung to the rocks we watched another gal float by. She probably weighed over 400 pounds. Think blimp—as she floated on her back, feet first, toes in the air as if charting her float. She was screaming and yelling and floating just as easily as can be.
       By that time the people on the boat realized what was happening and stopped anyone else from entering the water.
       Immediately the little life boat was put in the water and the first rescue was the floating blimp. She had trouble getting in the boat so they simply towed her and came over for us. We three climbed in the skiff and then it headed back to the bigger boat.
       The three of us were able to board the ladder with no problem, but the blimp’s legs floated under the boat and she just couldn’t get her balance to manage the ladder. The crew had to lower a net into the water and eventually lift her aboard. Although this could have been a serious situation it was pretty funny after the fact. She was really very heavy and a real strain for the crew who were always most accommodating.
      Now it was apparent, and we all knew why, we had anchored on the other side of the island a couple of days earlier. It’s always better to follow the safety rules and everyone was fortunate that this situation was without incident.