“Don your Scubas,” Charlie ordered.
The boys quickly slipped on face masks, helmets, water lungs, snorkels. Charlie helped them strap their compressed-air tanks on their backs.
Next the boys put on their weight belts. Into a rubber scabbard on each belt went a wickedly sharp knife. There were sharks in these waters. A depth gauge and watch were strapped on each boy’s left wrist.
Charlie inspected each item of diving equipment carefully. He tugged at straps, examined each piece of gear separately.
“Jettison belts!” he called out suddenly.
With a flip of his hand, Biff hit the catch on his weight belt. It dropped to the sand. Derek was a few seconds longer.
“Seconds can count, Derek, if you get into trouble. Try it again.”
Derek slipped his weight belt back on. Charlie shouted the order. Derek hit the catch, and his belt dropped.
“That’s better, Derek. Remember, that belt is what holds you down. If you have to come up fast, you’ve got to get rid of that belt fast.”
“But don’t try to come up too fast, Derek,” Biff said. “Especially if you’re down deep.”