At approximately 1045 we returned to the south beach to collect our inflatable and return to Tahlequah. Arriving at the beach we were stunned to discover little water left in the anchorage, a phenomenon we were not used to. Helen remarked she thought Tahlequah might be on sand. I added this was impossible as we were anchored in 40 feet of water a short time before.

We began dragging our inflatable through the sand to reach water in the distance. I saw rental powerboats and longtails racing towards us, skidding frantically but unable to make progress because of the sand. I commented to Helen how people abuse boats and how furious it made me. The skippers of the Thai canoes motioned us back and began jumping from their canoes to anchor them in the sand.

Looking into the distance I saw a small foam line on the horizon moving towards us. Helen and I agreed to abandon the dinghy and run back to the island beach for safety. Running, I continued to look behind to see the wave gaining distance at an unbelieveable rate.

Seconds later I turned again to see the wave hit a rental power boat. It broke apart as it fell in the surf. I realized it was useless to run. I told Helen to stop and I bear-hugged her. I remember saying to myself: I’m going to forget I have to concentrate on hugging her; I can’t release her no matter what.

We saw a boiling froth of sea coming at us with an increasing loud swishing noise; it seemed to go on forever. Foolishly, I dug my feet into the sand hoping to withstand the wave. As it hit I felt us smacked to the sand instantly. As we hugged I could feel us tumbling like toy dolls head over heels along the bottom.

The pressure and force of the water prevented us from surfacing. As my hands were ripped from embracing Helen we both surfaced against two palm trees and were held there by ferocious current. Helen was in shock, staring towards the ocean motionless. I held her, repeating again and again: “It’s over, it’s over. We survived. You’ll be OK.”

At that exact moment we were hit by a much larger wave. I felt the palm trees give way and again we tumbled together along the bottom, rolling over the island. I continued to focus on not releasing Helen. I kept thinking” ‘We’re going to hit something; we have to,’ and waited for that moment.

We continued tumbling, seemingly forever. I was running out of air and knew I had to make it to the surface. Forcing us to the top, I had time to gulp a quick breath before being forced down again. When surfacing I saw I was passing through the palm trees on the south side of the island and knew we were now going out to sea. Desperate, I had to make it to the surface again and made a final effort to reach the top.

I tried to surface but couldn’t because of debris everywhere. I lost my grasp of Helen a second time. My hand grabbed a floating cushion and I pulled myself to the surface only to be forced below again and again.