Noa Noa Island (coral reef = life)

Asher Ballonoff 3/27/22

We just arrived on this tiny island in the Sulu Sea. The colors even above the water are magnificent. Today I woke up at 4:00 and went back to sleep until 6:00. My dad was running around these 300 yards across island. When he got back, we started to go to the ocean to snorkel. We first got into the water and put on our fins, mask, and snorkel. I have not snorkeled before here. When I first dipped my head in the insanely clear water, I knew I was in for an adventure. We started out with some rocks and sand. But when I looked, I saw some coral to. When there started to be lots of coral and fish, I was amazed! Then my dad signaled me up to the surface he said, “Do you want to go to the drop off?” I nodded but had no Idea what the drop off was, or what was in it. But just in a couple strokes I saw a dark patch in front of me. Then the world seemed to drop away beneath me. Life flourished like a rainbow in the water. Parrot fish nibbling on the endless coral, schools of bright blue and yellow fish and huge spotted big lips. Then the tiny fish come into view tiny but shining little green fish dart around the water like birds in a storm. Some clams that reeled in when we were near were as big as me! Even some jellyfish came into view. I swore that I saw at least a billion living things just at the drop off. The name of this amazing island is Noa Noa. It is odd that a tiny island could hold so many creatures!