The boat cut across the waves, its motor humming as the morning sun painted the horizon in streaks of gold. Marcus leaned against the rail, wetsuit half-zipped, his eyes alive with anticipation. He could already feel the pull of the ocean beneath him, beckoning him into its hidden world. Aaron, manning the controls, glanced over his shoulder with a grin.
“You’re grinning like a kid on Christmas. You’d think you haven’t done this a hundred times already.” Marcus smirked, shaking his head. “Doesn’t matter how many dives I’ve done. Every time feels new. Different reef, different life. You never know what’s waiting below.” Aaron tugged his sunglasses down, still smiling. “Just don’t forget to step back out again.