A Shark Story?

One day in late February, prior to joining the Sydney Aquatic Centre, I had a particularly disorganized morning, having found myself unable to swim in the local Manly pool due to a swim competition and unable to swim in the enclosed swimming area at the wharf due to numerous jelly fish. I thought, I have this beautiful water all around me, and there are swimmers and surfers in these waters all the time, and the lifeguards insist the reef sharks won't hurt anyone. So, after confirming with the lifeguards that conditions for swimming the 800m to Shelly's Beach were perfect, I thought I would do it. The picture here shows the water along which I was travelling.

I set out among the rocks and headed out into the beautiful water as the sun streamed down. I found myself swimming in what felt like an aquarium. Aquatic life of all sorts were about me. It was a bit freaky but very thrilling. The water was not overly deep and very clear so I could see the lovely plant life and coral below. I arrived at Shelly's Beach, turned and started to swim back for my second lap. I was constantly amazed (and still a little freaked out) at the colourful fish and thought how much more interesting this swim was compared to swimming in a swimming pool. Then, about halfway back from where I started, as I was looking to my right slightly under water, I saw the biggest and scariest fish face I've ever seen (up close). My initial reaction was to stop breathing, but I made myself very calmly head over to the rocks that I was swimming along, trying not to thrash about too much, until those last few seconds where the rocks were almost upon me, at which point I proceeded to throw myself into them. I looked back and even stuck my face back in the water to try and see what was there. I saw nothing and wondered if perhaps this was completely a figment of my wild imagination. It may have been nothing, or at most a harmless reef shark, but I have yet to venture back into those waters.