It just isn't the same on this forum! But I'll do my best.
Last year, I visited Egypt for a couple of weeks. I had some business to do in Port Said, which is at the top of the Suez Canal if you can picture it. As my time there drew to a close, I decided that it would be a shame to visit Suez without at least stopping to the Red Sea. I had never been, and had always heard about how beautiful the fish and corals were. So, my traveling companions and I took a plane and flew to Cape Muhammad, where we planned to spend just two nights.
Our first and only full day at the Red Sea, Benito and I rented diving equipment and went out to explore the shallow areas close to shore. (Luis stayed on the beach because he has always had a strong aversion to the water.) Benito and I had planned on remaining close, but you know what happens to careful plans.
The coral reefs were breathtaking! It was like watching a thousand tiny dancers stretching their arms to the sky. The light when under water is very soft, like a quiet breath, and I know that I heard singing even though I should have heard only the water in my ears.
Benito and I descended further into the sea, where the colors became even brighter and the light even softer. I must admit, I was transfixed by the sights, and lost track of him. I can't tell you how long we were there, as time began to lose its meaning, but I noticed that something was wrong when a ribbon of red began to twist itself before my eyes.
I turned, and saw my good friend being dragged by the arm into a dark cave in the wall of coral! I dragged myself through the water to him, reaching him just as his shoulder slammed into the solid entrance of the narrow cave. Though neither of us could speak, his mask was gushing bubbles that I knew contained his screams. We both steeled our feet against the sides of the cave and began to slowly pull, trying to free his arm from whatever it was that had gotten it!
Just when I feared he was going to lose his arm, we were both thrown backwards as a beast lunged from the cave. It was an enormous moray eel, at least twenty feet long! Though we were under water, I swear I saw it breathe fire from its long jaws as it turned, ready to finish Benito off.
I reached down on the sloping coral face, trying to find anything at all to fend it off with. My fingers found a rock, and so I swam forward with my tiny weapon just as the eel was charging for my friend. We met halfway, and I collided with it from the side to send it off course. Benito by this point was swimming as fast as he could to the surface, for the water was blooming red with blood and we knew there would be sharks in the reef. The eel and I wrestled, its long body fluttered in the misty red water as I bashed its skull in over and over with my rock!
Finally, it let out a huff of ashen smoke and went limp. I wasted no time in dashing to the surface to see if my friend was okay! We were able to make our way to shore, where Luis was waiting for us. As the doctor at our hotel stitched up Benito's arm, I realized that I had held onto the rock that saved our lives without noticing. I was going to drop it on the ground outside when I inspected it a bit more closely.
It was no rock at all, but a large oyster! I took it to my room and found a letter opener to pry it open with. And when I did, I found the most unexpected thing - it was a jet black pearl with a splash of orange, like a dragon's flame!
Ah, yes, I love that story. I must admit it's better in person, but I hope that it could satisfy you, James.