Low Life

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Corals seen through clear ocean water at low tide.

I'm no seaman nor do I play one on TV. My knowledge of ocean matters approaches zero once the conversation shifts away from "Chicken of the Sea" brand of canned tunas. With that in mind, for one short stretch each month, the tides on Ko Lipe reach super low levels and the underlying sand and coral stretches for hundreds of feet. The tides are so low most boats become grounded and sea-faring creatures get incarcerated in small pools of ocean water. This low tide gives gawkers like myself a chance to poke around the corals without risk of stingray attack or the inevitable shrieks released when my foot brushes against a sea anemone.

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Tourists search the low-tide waters for sea life and souvenir shells.

We've all seen the Brady Bunch episode where the Bradys go to Hawaii. In the event anyone out there finds a beautiful shell (or carved tiki doll), for the love of Pete, refrain from taking it home lest you desire all manner of misfortune and calamity. That also applies to the white, floury sand on Ko Lipe as well. You've been duly warned.