This is the story of how 6 minutes could change an aquatic adventure into a watery nightmare.

We hadn’t been snorkeling yet this year, so a nice warm Saturday afternoon  seemed to be the perfect occasion to get back into the swim of things.

Last year we had found the perfect location for snorkeling called Divers Cove in Laguna Beach.  It is not publicized, but widely known to locals and anyone who accidentally discovered it (as we had).  What made Divers Cove such a great snorkeling and scuba location is the barnacle reef that all the sea creatures gathered around and within.  The cove makes a slightly curving “L” out to a peninsula, where it becomes a cliff separating the cove from the next beach area to the north.  In this manner, the jutting peninsula is fairly close to deep water, but landscaped with protruding rocks and sea cliffs to make quite a photographic spot when the waves come dashing in.

The reef is covered with barnacles and other sharp objects, so as long as you are wearing protection from head to foot, it isn’t a problem.  My biggest warning to the group is always; stay away from the rocks and wear protective gear, especially on the feet.

Every time I had taken Terry to Divers Code, she did NOT have a good experience (e.g. water not clear, rough waters, etc.).  And of course, every time I went without Terry, everyone had a great time.  We always joked about this everytime we went snorkeling.  This time was no different.

And as usual, I checked the tide times and conditions in the local paper for this area.  Everything checked out fine.  We usually try snorkeling during low tide.  We wouldn’t get there until the low to high tide time frame.

As we started down the stairs to the beach, I checked the water condition (as I normally do).  The seas were fairly calm, the waves breaking normally.  Absolutely no indications of what was to come.  And as usual, I asked the life guard about the tide conditions (a little rough but clear).

Everyone dressed up in their wetsuits like black seals heading out to sea.  I always check the kids out for protection on their feet due to the sharp objects on the reef.  I always use gloves when snorkeling to dive down and grab sea life to bring up to the surface for the kids to see. 

At the last moment, just before entering the water, the younger three kids decided to stay on the beach and just body surf the waves.  Terry, Donald and I continued out for some fun snorkeling for about an hour

I had no problem getting past the breaking waves to start the snorkeling adventure, but Terry and Donald took some time.  The waves were starting to break harder.  Once you were past the breaking waves, the sea was rough, but not to the point of concern.  The water was clear, so the adventure continued.  And as normal, I always instructed everyone to breath “low and slow” in case of water getting into their snorkel and needing to save a breath of air to blow the water out.  I always repeated “low and slow” to hammer in the importance of saving a breath of air.

As usual, while we were snorkeling, I spotted some sea life and dove down to retrieve it to show to everyone.  This is when I realized that I had left my gloves on the beach.  It was too late to go back for them, so we continued.  On we went.  Every few minutes or so, I would always look up to see where we were heading and to check the distance to the rocks, so that no one would get pushed into the sharp coral or mussels that adorn the rocks. 

Since the water was so clear, we swam out further than we had before, out past the peninsula.  After about 30 minutes of cruising around the rocks, my ankles were getting sore so I motioned to everyone to start to head back.  Up to this point, we had about 20 feet visibility, and the sea was rather calm - absolutely no indications of what would happen next.

Donald was about 5 feet to my left (ocean side) and Terry about the same distance to my right (beach side).  Without any warning whatsoever, I found myself sucked up and swallowed inside a huge crashing wave.

In hind sight, I can only guess that Donald was just outside of this huge wave, I was in it’s crest, and Terry at the bottom of the ocean’s surge.

When I was finally able to straighten myself up, I found myself about 20 feet from where we had been snorkeling, within 4 feet of a rock pillar protruding out of the sea, covered with sharp barnacles.  I watched in amazement as the water immediately swirled around the pillar and created a 4 foot deep whirlpool that I could not escape from.  

I was able to exchange my last breath and grab a new lungful of air just before being sucked into the mini-whirlpool.  I put my feet out towards the rock in fear of being ripped along the jagged edges.

At this same time, Terry was rolled about 30 feet north of where we were swimming.  Terry came up and could see Donald, but not me.  Terry yelled to Donald to swim out from the area and start swimming back to the beach.  The second wave took Terry and rolled her up like a blanket and cast her closer to the cliffs.

While I was submerged, I could see a shelf of razor sharp muscles 10 feet away that was only a few feet underwater.  Not seeing anyone else within 20 feet underwater, I needed an advantage point.  This second wave did me a favor by throwing me closer to the shelf.  The only problem is pulling myself up onto the shelf without protective gloves.  There is no choice as I felt the needle sharp muscles penetrate my hands and arms.

Once on top of the shelf, I realized that I was now about 50 feet from where we were 2 waves ago.  I could see Donald about 75 feet away and yelled for him to swim out and back to the beach.  Since I was so far from Donald, I also used hand motions in the hopes that he would understand before the next wave threw me back down into the churning sea.  

I turned to scan for Terry and saw her 50 feet north of me.  She was surrounded by protruding rocks and cliffs.  Luckily from my view point, I could also see a small cove that was 50 feet directly ahead of her and yelled out to swim straight into this safe cove.  When the third wave came, I thought I could hold onto the muscles, but down I went.

With her head just above the water, the only thing Terry could see was the protruding rocks and cliffs.  She couldn’t see Donald after the second wave hit.  After hearing me, she was thrown further into the cove by the next wave. This brought her closer to the beach where she could see the cove and swim to safety.  After the third wave, she couldn’t see Donald or me any more.

The third wave dragged me across the razor sharp muscles like shuffling your feet across a thorned carpet.  As hard as I tried, I could not control where I went that day.  I was being flung inland like a rag doll on the whim of each wave.  When the third wave finally let me go, I was facing the cliffs, only 20 feet away - knowing that if I was caught up in the cliffs, I probably could not get out in time to save anyone.  

I staggered up, twisted and looked where Terry had been only a few seconds ago, and no sight of her.  I looked out to sea for Donald, and he was also gone.  I looked back and forth, but no one came up.

My first thought was that the waves were too ferocious for both of them.   Terry might have hit her head on the rocks and be underwater.  Donald might be drowning as well.  I still looked back and forth, no one was coming up, the next wave was coming - what was I going to do now?

My mind rushed through the biggest decision I’ve every had to make: I’m half-way between the two - I can only save one, if I can save anyone at this point (I’m not convinced I can fight these breaking waves).  Terry is closer to safety and in shallower water, easier to locate.  Donald could be down 20 feet below the water and out to sea even further, harder to find - where would I start to look?  I know I can’t swim against these punishing waves, but Donald...  

I didn’t even get to the end of my decision, as the next wave picked me up and slammed me into the cliffs like an opening volleyball service.  All I could do was hang on and see what Mother Nature was going to do with me next.

At that moment, Terry made it to the beach and couldn’t see either Donald or myself.  She followed the cliffs and found a way around and up in to them, hurrying back to the point where she last saw me.  With the view point advantage on top of the cliffs she couldn’t even see Donald, let alone me.

As I was being thrown up the cliff and sucked back down into the barnacle pit at the bottom, I was grasping for each mouthful of air I could get, getting ready for the next cliff slamming.  The fifth wave threw me a few feet higher up the cliff.  There were no finger holes or anything to grab onto while I was suspended in water before being sucked back down.  I could see a small ledge to the right a few more feet up.  If only the next wave can throw me up a little higher, I might be able to get to this small ledge.

Then comes the sixth wave.  This time Mother Nature decided to give me the boost I needed.  With this last push, I stretch out as far as humanly possible, and clawed my fingers into a small hole in this little ledge, dragging myself up and into it.  I caught my breath and looked furiously for Terry and Donald - no one in sight.  Then I heard Terry yelling out for me.

I yelled back “I’m down here”, still not able to see her, yet only 6 feet from the top of the cliff.  Terry came around the top of the cliff and fearfully asked where Donald was.  We both scanned the horizon to no avail.  I was just about to try and yell to a boat that was probably 300 feet out to sea, when Terry looked further back towards the beach and saw Donald comfortably swimming in.  For the first time we both took the first breath of relief.

All of this within 6 waves, maybe a total of 6 minutes of peril at sea!

Now that the ordeal was over, Terry and I found out we were stuck on the peninsula.  The only way back was via water and we were both too exhausted to fight Mother Nature any more.

My hands, arms and legs were bleeding from the piercing barnacles and muscles.  My wetsuit had several rips and tears, but protected my body.  It was a mile trek up the cliff to the next beach and back to where we started.

As we walked back, we both verbalized the same thought.  If our three younger children had ventured out with us, I would be writing their obituaries instead of this ordeal.  Both Terry and I are completely convinced of this, as we recounted the events over and over, for the next several days, pondering on how bad of a disaster this could have been.  

When we finally dragged ourselves back to Divers Cove (still bleeding), we quizzed Donald on what he saw and felt as the first crashing wave started this adventure.  Donald had absolutely no idea as to what happened.  

And hopefully, he never will.