Paddling Without Flippers

Every time snorkeling in El Nido, Palawan there was a silent goal of seeing a turtle every time.

There's something about seeing a turtle that trumps seeing fish.

I was lucky enough to see 3 different turtles at 3 different times.

They came at the most unprepared, unorganized, "just-do-it" times.

The first time, I forgot my flippers so I was just paddling bare feet.

I had thoughts of going back but couldn't be bothered wasting 15 mins swimming back and forth to be in the same place.

So I proceeded out to the buoy and instead of going left I went right.

Most people go left, I had already been left and wanted to adventure right.

This is where I saw my first turtle.

The second time, it had just finished raining and the water was murky.

I get restless lying on a beach (unless I'm sleeping), so decided to snorkel.

I saw another turtle, feeding on the grass underwater.

The third time, Allana and I had been snorkeling for 15mins and she decided to get out but instead of getting out I continued to the rest of the dive.

5 mins later, I see a turtle with 2 suckerfish on the back (never seen that before).

I follow him for 15mins watching him feed then we leave.

3 times!

That's the most turtles I've seen in my life.

If you haven't snorkeled in the Philippines, highly recommend it!

I saw turtles with no fins, murky water and persistence.

Achieving your goals rarely perfectly align they require the dedication to get them regardless of circumstance.

If your goal is fat loss, maybe some weddings, parties, celebrations and vacations are your murky waters and lack of flippers in your way.

That doesn't mean you give up and 'blow out'.

You persist, do your best and navigate your way around it.

It may feel like you're paddling without flippers, but at least you're still moving!