I looked down into the water that was a dark, murky green but it was somehow still beautiful and serene. I was scared to jump in, even though I had already gone swimming multiple times today. My cousins, Carter, Carson, and Aaron had already jumped into the water and were now swimming towards the rocks. I awkwardly jumped off the boat, trying to catch up to them. The water was cool, but it was refreshing after sitting in the sun for so long.

I climbed up onto the first small rock, being careful so I wouldn’t cut myself on zebra muscles. I started climbing, the dirt sticking to my feet and hands, which was disgusting. After the rocky, hard climb I had made it to the rocks we were jumping off.

My cousin, Samantha, came beside me as we looked down the drop and into the water. I looked at her as I realized we had left our life jackets on the boat. There was no going back now; you could climb up but you couldn't climb back down. You had to jump!

Carson and Carter had swung off a rope on the lower rocks, but I was determined to jump off the highest ones. I looked down into the water, the water rippling from Aaron jumping. I took a quick look at the drop, which didn’t help my nerves very much. I took a deep breath reminding myself that it was water, and that I love water.

I pushed myself as far out as I could from the rocks and felt myself flying through the air. I took a quick breath just before I hit the water. I fell deep and I floated below the surface for a couple seconds, taking in the quiet. It was calm as the bubbles fizzed around me. I could hear the boat’s engine above me but it was faded as if it was in another world. I started to swim up, but I wanted to stay in the water forever. I reached the surface and felt the water fall off my face.

These experiences in 30 Island Lake are ones I don’t want to lose.