An Afternoon Break

While studying for my reinforced concrete design midterm early this afternoon, I looked out the library window and down out over the bay (a good 150 meters below my floor in the library) and watched sheets of rain disturb the normally calm water. Even though it was only about 60 degrees out, I decided that diving off the boat ramp pier and going for a swim in the pouring rain would be an exhilarating break from my work. Luckily I have some friends here to tend to be up for similar ideas.

Sent a text and within 20 minutes we were walking down to our hall to get changed. Threw on our bathing suits and some under armour to stay warm. Having just gotten out of back-to-back exams, my roommate decided to join the spontaneity. Walking down to the pier, we noticed that the tide was particularly low and got a little worried that it would be too shallow to jump. Turned out to still be plenty deep, only difference was that it made the drop more like five meters instead three or four. We climbed over the fence, careful not to get our shorts stuck on the "no swimming" signs and thew ourselves off the five meter concrete wall into the "shark infested" Port Shelter bay.

Apparently sharks actually aren't uncommon in the area, but I think the locals tend to play up the danger a little. All of the official beaches around Hong Kong have shark nets. I think they are not only unnecessary but detract from the beaches a lot.

Anyway, spending half and hour throwing ourselves off the wall, swimming around in the cold shark water, and then trying to climb up the slippery, barnacle covered boat ramp in bare feet, all the while hiding from security vans that randomly drove by, made for a great study break. I'll have to head down there when it's not raining some time and take a couple pictures.