Decked out in snorkel equipment and wetsuit—getting into and out of which was admittedly the most challenging aspect of the whole experience–I entered the 200,000-gallon coral reef tank. It was filled with large and small residents—more than 50 species of fish, sharks, and eels—into whose life I was about to intrude at the Aquarium Encounters complex in Marathon, Florida. In the tank I swam with tarpon, common snook, French grunts, permit fish, horse-eyed jack, and assorted friends. The cownose rays were especially playful. At every turn I was greeted by another underwater inhabitant: puffers, porcupine and butterfly fish, snappers and groupers—not that I really had any idea as to their individual identities at the time. The sharks here are behind a Plexiglas shield and fed through small holes, so I carefully followed the instructions on how the feeding was to be done. Instructor Dan intoned: “I’ll open the window and …