The tide was nearly full, the water calm, greeny blue and crystal clear. I waded in, up and up crept the water, cold to the top of the thighs, cold to the waist and above, no more! I pushed off, ducked my head under and rolled onto my back. The water was crisp and cooling, my scalp felt cool. I backstroked out a bit ,enveloped by the panorama of small dunes on my right, the faded green lifesaving clubhouse to the centre and the banks of tree rising to the left; banksias, teatrees, melaleucas, wattles, a whole range of greens, and finally, the rock platform and pool to my left with the boat ramp and cliffs further on.

The water was deeper and colder. The sandy bottom flickered with undulating sunny golden reflections of the tiny surface ripples. Out to sea and the open horizon, the water deepened to a rich blue in gradations from the greeny water I was floating in. I just stood and floated in the water, idly kicking and waving my arms to stay afloat.

I was immersed in water, weightless yet supported. I could taste the clean saltiness. The sky reflected the blue of the sea, the dunes were a soft gold, the marram grass a dusty grey green, just like the club house set back amongst the sand, grass and trees. The trees were a dense mass of different greens and their rounded canopies balanced the spikiness of the grasses on the opposite side of the little bay. Enclosing me on each side were the two arms of the rock platforms which made Bubby Beach bay so safe and calm to swim in.

And with a flip, I could gaze out to the indigo horizon with only water between my eyes, so low, between me and it.