We started our final day at Glover’s Reef way before sunrise—5 a.m. wake-up call, followed by a quick breakfast of plain bread and a lot of yawning. The boat ride back to the mainland was… rough. The water was choppy, and for the first time this week, I felt truly seasick. I did everything to distract myself: deep breathing, staring at the horizon, mentally listing every species of soft coral I could remember. It sort of worked.

Once we got to the marina, stepping onto solid ground felt like a small miracle. From there, we took an air-conditioned bus (best part of the day) to the airport. That’s when the travel stress really kicked in—I only had a little over an hour to catch my connecting flight. Cue a full-on airport power walk through customs and security. Luckily, I made it.

Now that I’m home in NYC, it’s strange to think that just this morning I was surrounded by turquoise water and coral reefs. It’s hard leaving a place where soft corals gently sway under the waves and lionfish lurk in rocky crevices. I already miss the reef—but I’m bringing back a suitcase full of memories (and probably some sand in my shoes).