I was on a cruise with the GF her sis and husband that was for 7 days, leaving from San Juan, PR last Sept, to
St Thomas, Dominicana Island, Barbados, Aruba and back to PR. I was snorkling at every stop, however in Barbados, they did not have my size fins so I went in with out. I am a good swimmer, in good shape etc, however, due to the previous few days using fins, I was out in the water, up to 20 ft at times for an hr or so. This time I got carried away following this huge turtle about 200 yd offshore, no real waves, but when my mask fogged, and i spit and rinsed, i realized how far off shore I was. I gues I got scared, the adrenalin kicked in, and as I was swimming back, I got light headed, and felt like I was about to faint. So I started floating on my back to rest, but felt I was being pulled further out, so started swimming again but the next thing I know, the sky is turning black, my head felt hot, and I actually went under and felt myself shake myself like having a bad dream awake and swallowing water. I must have really fainted from exhuastion, but as I realized what was happening, this super human strength comes on if u do not want to die. I swam like a fucking madman and got to some coral in about 7 feet of water and held on, my fingers bleeding... until I caught my breath. I got to land, and realized that I actually drowned. It is not like playing B ball, or soccer, tennis, running track, etc, where u can just stop and rest. You are always threading water, and the adrenalin is also taking oxygen, so no matter how good of a swimmer, be carefull. Oh, and then I go up to the lifeguard hut afterwards, and they (Barbadoes lifeguards) are in their smoking pot and playing dominos.
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