QUOTE : commanding the entire length, so there was no cover or alternative to doing the dive. This was the only way to get close. A commotion from the sea bed startled him with a cloud of muddy sediment. A large stingray rose from the muck and glided by him, nudging his neoprene-encased legs with one of its wings. More sensing the creature than seeing it, he was momentarily caught off guard. His respiration increased as he flailed in alarm, causing a rush of bubbles to rise to the surface. Battling for control over his breathing, he struggled to slow his heart rate – after a few seconds of inward composure, he had it back to beating at a moderate pace. He didn’t pause long to dwell on the near-miss, beyond musing that it would be ironic if his