by Nicole Tufts

Created on: June 23, 2008

I am amazed by everything the sea has to offer. It's constantly changing, so free, it does whatever it wants. Have you ever gone scuba diving? Well, when you are under water it is so peaceful, so perfect. You can't hear anything going on in the world, no cars, no people talking, there are no phones ringing, just pure peace and quiet.
The first time I ever went scuba diving was in my pool, my father used to let me put on all the gear and go scuba diving in our pool for practice. I used to just sit on the bottom of the pool and look up watching all the bubbles rise to the top of the water. I remember it being so peaceful, so calm, it put me at ease.

I finally got a chance to go scuba diving in the ocean, and it was a little different from my pool. It was still peaceful, but the ocean had so much more to offer. There was a whole other world underwater.
The sea life is incredible to watch, it's so interesting to me. When I went to St. Thomas we were scuba diving and I was stunned at how beautiful it was underwater. The fish have an amazing display of colors and shapes and the coral was breathtaking. I fell in love with underwater life. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse habitats in the world, Scientist believe that coral actually evolved in the tropical Pacific Ocean.
Although, the ocean and underwater life is so beautiful, there are some scary thoughts that cross through my mind sometime, like sharks. You can't hear a shark sneaking up you when you're underwater. It hurts when you get stung by a jellyfish. Imagine getting bit by a shark, No Thanks.
Because I am willing to take the risks to enjoy the serenity of the sea, I must make myself aware of the dangers of the sea. I'm not just talking about the sea life. I am talking about the water too.
We live on a planet that is dominated by water. What are the properties of water, I asked myself. I found out that Water has a very simple atomic structure. Molecular polarity causes water to a powerful solvent and responsible for its strong surface tension.
Water is the only substance that occurs naturally on earth in three forms: solid, liquid, and gas. In liquid water, the molecules of hydrogen and oxygen are close together but are able to slip past one another, which is why it flows. Examples of this are a river, a waterfall, or water coming out of your faucet.
When the temperature drops, the water molecules slow down and become sluggish. As it becomes cold enough for the water to freeze, the molecules rearrange themselves into hollow rings. This is why water expands when it freezes, unlike most other substances which contract. This expansion in the solid phase is the reason why ice cubes float in a glass of water. The ice is actually lighter or less dense than the liquid water.
Water also occurs in the gaseous phase, such as steam rising from a boiling tea kettle. As water is heated, the molecules move about violently, colliding with one another, until some break free and form a vapor, or gas.
I've started to become very interested in water and I will continue to research it.

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