Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Relaxing Visit to a Hawaiian Coral Reef (Hawaii #1)

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Starting point is 00:01:37 it can help you sleep better, improve focus, reduce anxiety, relieve tinnitus and calm babies. As a listener of Get Sleepy, we have an exclusive offer for you, you. Download the white noise deep sleep sounds app and get 30 days free access to all of the premium content. Just go to deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy. That's deepsleepsounds.com slash get sleepy. Welcome to get sleepy, where we listen, we relax and we get sleepy. My name's Thomas. It's my esteemed privilege to be your host. Wherever you are in the world, I hope you know that you are so welcome here. Our goal is to help as many people as possible get the best sleep they can, and to nurture a healthy attitude towards rest and relaxation. It means everything to us that we can do that, and we can do that, and we will

Starting point is 00:02:53 are so proud to have listeners from all corners of this beautiful planet of ours. And perhaps if you're listening on a platform that allows you to do so, you could drop us a comment on this episode to let us know where in the world you're listening from. As you probably already know, I'm in the UK, not far from the wonderful city of Cambridge. In tonight's story, we're heading to a place where I've personally never been, but I love to learning more about it when recording this story. Shortly, we'll begin a relaxing three-part journey to a few of Hawaii's natural wonders. We'll have the next two installments coming out on the following Monday nights, giving you a full week to enjoy each tale.

Starting point is 00:03:53 But remember, as the episodes come out, you can take your time. making your way through each one of them. It's all about relaxation and reveling in the wonders of nature. A big thank you goes to Layla for writing this series. In this episode, we'll travel to the beautiful world of coral reefs surrounding the big island of Hawaii. We'll be plunging into the cool waters just offshore. to snorkel around and observe all the magical creatures there.

Starting point is 00:04:40 So, my friends, let's prepare to listen by taking some time to embrace the peace and stillness of the night as you settle into your cozy bed. Remember that thousands of other listeners are doing the same thing. We're all here to share in the peace. and stillness and to enjoy a comfortable, refreshing night's sleep. Perhaps you'd like to join me in a couple of deep breaths, extending the exhale so it's a little longer than the inhale to help slow everything down, both in body and mind. So, take a full, steady breath in, hold for a moment, and slowly, gently, release it back out.

Starting point is 00:06:01 Again, breathing in fully, holding at the top and gently letting it go. As you continue with that pattern of breathing, make it your intention to embrace the peace and stillness of the night and know that fellow listeners all around the world are doing the very same thing. In our own special, subtle way, we are all connected here, like one big caring community, where we're all equal, all cherished, and all welcome. As you take one more of those so relaxing breaths. Keep that sense of care and community in mind. And now you can continue to unwind, slowly drifting towards sleep as we travel in our mind's eye to the reefs of Hawaii. This is where our story begins.

Starting point is 00:08:06 is cool and buoyant around you. You float effortlessly, softly drifting back and forth with the gentle motion of small waves that ebb and flow across the bay. Your face is underwater. Yet you breathe as easily as ever, thanks to a snorkel attached to your face mask. through the polished glass of the mask, which fits comfortably over your eyes. You're able to gaze around at the underwater world surrounding you. The bay water is astoundingly clear this morning, and you can easily see down to the coral bedet sea floor below. You can also see clearly a long way in every direction.

Starting point is 00:09:18 The large fish swims by a few feet away, near an outcropping of coral. The fish sparkles with a rainbow of colours. It has a turquoise strip along its back. Lavender sides that fade into peach and pale blue, plus spindly magenta lines that waver across the other shades, like colourful spider webs. It's the most beautiful fish you've ever seen, and you turn your head to watch it pass beneath you. You find it mesmerizing with a kind of otherworldly splendor. You arrived on the big island of Hawaii yesterday. You spent the first evening settling in to the comfortable beach.

Starting point is 00:10:32 side apartment where you'll be staying. Then, this morning, you headed straight out to this little bay in order to try snorkeling around the island's legendary coral reefs. You've never snorkeled in a truly rich marine environment before. And you've been looking forward to this experience for a very long time. It's only been a few minutes, but it's already safe to say that you are not disappointed. The rainbow-colored fish passing beneath you is just one among an impressive number of fascinating creatures that fill the underwater world, all of which you witness from the surface, you think back to the book about the sea life of Hawaii that you poured over during your flight here based on what you read about the reef fish

Starting point is 00:11:58 in the islands and the full-colour pictures that illustrated the book. You're almost certain you can identify the rainbow-colored fish. You feel sure that it's a species of parrot fish. You kick your feet very slightly, as the fish slowly swims away from you. Your feet are encased in large rubber flippers that propel you smoothly through the water. With just the slightest hint of effort, following the fish, you endeavour to get a closer look. It turns, allowing you to see its front more clearly. Sure enough, the animal's mouth is rounded in a way that's reminiscent of a parrot's beak.

Starting point is 00:13:10 You remember this from the photos of parrotfish you saw in the book. The book told you that the most colorful parrot fish, like the one you're following, are males. not just any. There are a specific class of males. That's because parrotfish can do something that seems astonishing. They can actually change their sex when needed, probably to make up for low population numbers. You learned from your reading that female parrotfish and primary male parrotfish, which are those that are born male, have a duller coloration. But some dominant females eventually switch to become males. When the male guarding their territory dies, for example,

Starting point is 00:14:25 these fish are then known as secondary males, or sometimes super males. And when they change their sex, they also change their coloring. These secondary males are the ones adorned with the most striking colours. Like the rainbow beauty you've been admiring, nature truly is astounding, you think. As you watch the lovely fish serenely swimming through the water below, our natural world is filled with seemingly infinite variation. You could devote all your waking hours,

Starting point is 00:15:21 to observing the many kinds of creatures within it and the many ways they live, and still never cease to be amazed. Your thoughts wander, as your eyes follow the fish. Then you notice another fish nearby, which pulls you out of your reverie. This one is a much smaller, but equally ornate creature. It is a very innate creature. It is a slim and lithe, with a more typically pointed snout than the parrot fish. But it is just as colourful and striking as its larger companion. This second smaller fish is a showy combination of near neon pink and green stripes, which waver in and out in a magnificently eye-catching pattern.

Starting point is 00:16:39 You remember this fish from the book as well. It's called a Christmas rass, perhaps because it's like a tropically bright version of the classic red and green color scheme of the festive season. You can hardly believe your luck to see two of the most extraordinary fish in the whole book so soon into your snorkeling adventure. venture, but as it turns out, you will see many more of these stunning creatures, which seem to be relatively common here along the reefs surrounding the island.

Starting point is 00:17:35 Seeing the rich diversity of the reef life, you are tremendously grateful to all those people who've helped protect this ecosystem over the centuries. feel thankful to the generations of people, from ancient Hawaiians to the diverse inhabitants of today, who've recognized the value of living in balance with the natural world, who've acknowledged the power of living in a way that allows all the creatures of nature, from humans to parrotfish, to thrive. And you realize you can thank yourself too for taking a small action to help preserve these beautiful reefs. That's because this morning you didn't put on the typical sports sunscreens that are so easy and transparent to apply.

Starting point is 00:18:49 Instead, you took just a little extra effort to apply mineral sunscreen, which is a bit thicker and whiter than other types of sun protection. But it doesn't harm the coral reefs, unlike the other, and that makes all the difference in the world. After all, what was a moment of extra effort in comparison to the pre-year? privilege of witnessing such a world of beauty as this, and knowing you helped in your small way to preserve it, the absolute joy of existing in a world of diverse and thriving nature is unparalleled, you realize. You feel lucky and proud to support the ongoing existence

Starting point is 00:20:01 of this marine paradise, and to indulge in the amazing experience of witnessing its subtropical splendor. A flurry of bright color catches your eye now, and you turn your head to see a large school of yellow fish swimming along in unison. They are fairly small, oval-shaped fish, that are a broad, bright sunshine yellow from the tops of their fins to the tips of their tails. They swim down in a gaudy cloud to feed among the coral, and you catch your breath a little at the loveliness of the scene they create. You recognize these fish as well, which are almost certainly the most easily spotted fish along the Hawaiian shores.

Starting point is 00:21:20 This species is called the Yellow Tang. Or in the Hawaiian language, Laipala, which means yellow tea leaf, not tea as in the drink mind you, but spelled tea-eye, a leafy plant that early Polynesians brought when they settled on the Hawaiian islands long ago. Yellow tangfish are common around shallow reefs in cooler subtropical waters, like those in Hawaii, and they tend to move in small groups, such as the one you're watching now. The cloud of sun-yellow fish descends to the sea floor, which undulates with rocks and brightly colored coral. The yellow tangs hover over the reef, feeding on algae and seaweed that grow on the rocks and coral.

Starting point is 00:22:40 Yellow tang are grazing fish, like sheep or goats on land. They play an important role in the coral reef ecosystem. keeping algae from growing too abundant and overwhelming the coral. Interestingly, you remember reading that the yellow tang shifts its appearance at nighttime. Like many reef creatures apparently do, after dark, the fish changes from its bright yellow color, to a darker, grayish yellow, with a thick white band. It also adapts its behavior at night. The group you can see swimming around in daytime, like the school you've been watching, tend to split up, and the fish lurk separately in little crevices during the dark hours. Once again,

Starting point is 00:23:58 You are amazed at the surprising and wonderful variations of nature. Right now, the yellow tang are certainly at their brightest, as they swarm like a cloud of liquid sunshine over the orange coral. The scene is simultaneously riveting and profoundly peaceful. of light filter through the water, like columns of daylight through the stained glass window of a cathedral. Blue-tinged shadows meander placidly over the varied sea floor, as the many colors of the fish swirl around beneath you in a visual feast.

Starting point is 00:25:04 It is so effortless to float in the cool water. quiet sound of your own even breathing fills your ears. Together, these sensations impart a deep feeling of serenity. Then, in the corner of your eye, a larger shadow crosses your vision, moving with the same ponderous slowness as the drifting seaweed. You look towards the shadow, and are awed to see a huge sea turtle swimming along. Just beneath the surface of the water, the creature's appearance is ancient and majestic, with its beautifully intricate shell and wide legs, gently paddling in the clear water.

Starting point is 00:26:21 You feel as if a hush has overtaken you. you try to breathe even more slowly than before, and to float with the water's natural currents, blending into the environment so as not to disturb the turtle. You've never been so close to a sea turtle at such a short distance that you can admire the patterns on its beautiful shell. It is a green sea turtle, known as Honu in the Hawaiian language. It is the most common type in Hawaii. Although several other sea turtle species can also be spotted around the islands, you watch the ancient creature, move gracefully through the water, it holds an almost prehistoric

Starting point is 00:27:38 appearance. Observing it gives you a sense of timelessness, of continuity with the past and the future, for you know that sea turtles have lived on earth since the time of the dinosaurs. In fact, scientists believe they first existed around 120 million years. ago, and here they are, still going about their lives, much as their ancestors did, all that time ago. It puts things into perspective, you think. You feel humbled and inspired in the face of the power and resilience of nature. Thinking of it makes you feel small, but in a pleasant way.

Starting point is 00:28:51 It gives you a feeling of belonging too, of being part of a larger hole that hangs together and makes sense in a way that you can barely understand, but that can be felt intuitively. You watch the turtle begin to graze along some rocks just below the water's surface. You know that Hawaiian green sea turtles generally feed in the shallow waters of the island's bays, reefs and shores. They come out of the water at times to bask in the sun, much like sunbathing humans. At breeding time, the animals migrate in order to nest on wide, empty beaches, where the females lay clutches of eggs before returning to the sea. The eggs hatch at night, and the baby

Starting point is 00:30:11 sea turtles instinctively move towards the brightest horizon around, which is the ocean, beginning their lives in the sea, just like their parents. Other populations of green sea turtles live all along the coasts of North and South America on both the Pacific and Atlantic sides, as well as in the Mediterranean and some parts of the Indian Ocean. However, the Hawaiian sea turtles form their own genetically distinct population. This group mostly sticks to the area surrounding the islands, though they sometimes range to other nearby places, like American Samoa. Now, below the swimming sea turtle, you notice another fish. It's small and oval-shaped,

Starting point is 00:31:32 reminiscent of the yellow tang you saw earlier. This fish, however, is multi-colored. White with a large black spot and thin black stripes, all tinged with yellow. It's a species of butterfly fish, you think. Looking around, you see another similar one with slight variations in its coloring. Like the other fish you've seen. The butterfly fish are aptly named. their gaudy colors and patterns do indeed bring to mind the lovely wings of butterflies. Then, not far off, a more subtle but equally exquisite creature catches your eye.

Starting point is 00:32:43 It is lurking near the rocks on the sea floor. This one is an oddly shaped fish. almost rectangular, the squarish creature is black, covered with small white dots, packed closely together all over its body. The dots are so dense, in fact, that for a moment it's hard to say if it's a blackfish with white spots or a white one with black spots. This is a spotted boxfish, you recall, a relative of the puffer fish that lives around coral reefs in the more tropical parts of the Pacific Ocean. The fish looks ungainly, with its odd boxy shape, like it would have a hard time moving through the water, yet you learn in your reading that boxfish

Starting point is 00:34:05 are actually well adapted to their underwater environment. It's something that shouldn't surprise you, given the incredible adaptability and efficiency found everywhere in nature. Boxfish's rectangular bodies can actually move very effectively through the water, despite their unstreamlined look. In fact, your book informed you that engineers are using the boxfish as inspiration for new designs of submarines that can be manoeuvred efficiently even in choppy waters. You gently kick your legs now and the flippers send you gliding over the surface of the water. You feel the water flow over your arms and legs. Smooth and soft. The top layer of the sea has been warmed by the bright sun as your body disturbs the surface. The warm top level of the water mixes with the

Starting point is 00:35:39 cooler underlayers around you, creating a swirling of temperatures that is perfectly comfortable. Your breathing is easy and relaxed through your snorkel. It's a wonderful, magical feeling to breathe comfortably here. It feels a bit like flying as you float above the underwater world. What a joy to be able to exist with ease in this foreign environment. thanks to this simple technology that people have invented and perfected over the years. You glide onwards, looking around at the mysterious and incredibly beautiful marine world surrounding you. Up ahead, a handful of silvery fish soar along near the surface.

Starting point is 00:37:03 They have long, slim bodies that glimmer in the sunlight, filtering down into the water. Once again, it's easy to identify the animals from how they look. These slim silver creatures are appropriately named Needlefish. They typically swim in small schools near the surface of the water, just as you're seeing. Now, as they glide through the water, you marvel at their streamlined bodies and how they seem to move along with no propulsion at all. You compare this to the stocky boxfish drifting in the deep. It's incredible to witness the endless diversity to be found in nature, and to see how each

Starting point is 00:38:18 wildly different creature is perfect in its own unique way. As these thoughts drift through your mind, you notice another fish, more understated than any of the others. Its body is a velvety night black, with wavy fins and a fan-shaped tail of the same inky color, but along the base of its fins are two glowing white lines, so incandescent that they look almost purple, like a neon sign broadcasting its message into a dark night. You watch transfixed as this fish swims along. Its dazzling features, almost hidden among the bright tropical wonderland of colours and shapes, you could swim here all day you feel, just soaking in the sights and sensations that fill this coastal

Starting point is 00:39:52 environment. Eventually, of course, you'll get out of the water and take out of the water and take Take a break. Maybe you'll lie on the rocks for a while on your soft towel and let the warm air dry you as you doze in the sunshine. But for the time being, you'll stay in the water, kicking slowly along the reef, discovering all its many wonders and thanking the universe. thanking the universe for the magic of this moment.

Get Sleepy: Sleep meditation and stories - A Relaxing Visit to a Hawaiian Coral Reef (Hawaii #1)

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