The dry sand crunches under my feet as I walk across the beach. Little crabs skitter out of the way, racing amongst the scattered fragments of coral and seashells long abandoned to flip into the sea. For once, the ocean is calm. There’s not a ripple to be seen, as far as the horizon. A glassy mirror, the water reflects the cerulean sky above. Besides the wind dancing through the trees and my bare feet softly padding over the sand, a blanket of peaceful silence has settled over the beach. My brothers are quiet for once, and have fallen far behind me to more closely inspect a wandering hermit crab.

The reef from above  

I’ve reached the end of the point. Cautiously, I slip one toe into the water. I’m a bit of a wimp when it comes to cold water. But luckily for me, the water is as warm as tap water, as it usually is here on Phuket. A few feet from the beach, dead coral lurks just beneath the water. This reef has died off slowly, as it’s on a very bad section of beach. The tide pounds against it at low tide, and fishermen walk on it. But it hasn’t been entirely obliterated, which is why I’m here today. I’ve heard it’s a lovely place to swim. I slip my snorkel mask on, and eagerly dive beneath the glistening water into the mesmerizing paradise below.

Gabe underwater

Underwater bottle

The sky from beneath the surface

Coral

A sea urchin

A sea urchin bridge

Looking through a sea gate

More coral

Hannah Miller is a member of the Youth Travel Blogging Mentorship Program.

All photos courtesy and copyright Hannah Miller.