Passed the 1500' mark today, and awaiting additional hose attachments to allow me to continue my search for the source of the Aquatic culture. Who knew it was this deep? Not to worry! I have been keeping busy. My helmet light works wonderfully, though my crosswords have become quite soaked, and my pencil tends to tear the paper.

Now, I will nap, dangling at the end of this long hose, listening to the Psychic High School Girl's Choir sing Ave Maria through the speaking tube, floating in the deep, deep dark, alone.

It is a minor hardship in comparison with the stupendous revelations I will discover when I reach the city of the Aquatics! As no doubt depicted on the strange coins they toss upon our verdant shores. Every secret will be uncovered!

So I was watching the reflecting pool when @Sabine 7 arrived with these cool coins she said she found. Anyways I decided to show off my telekinetic powers. She was impressed and even the little guys in the pool liked it! I was taken aback when they started clapping.

Afterwards I decided to keep them since Sabine seemed fine with it. I'm gonna send a couple of them back home to my family.

I found three more of those old coins under a bush by the Reflecting Pool. There’s a big face of some old Aquatic on the front and a spiny sort of castle on the back.

I already have a bag full so I gave them to @Chloe Evergreen, who was hanging out watching the pool. What amazing telekinetic juggling skills! Those gold coins zipping around, flying up in the air, catching the afternoon light. Even the Aquatics in the pool noticed and clapped their webbed hands and made that smacking sound with their lips.

Today I dove deeper than I ever had before. You have to blow all your breath out, and the Aquatics hold it for you, and you start dropping. I never thought of the Reflecting Pool as bottomless before. Well, it's not quite bottomless. I wore goggles and could see a little cloud of light, way down below, before we turned around and started the long swim back up. The Aquatics give you back your breath, one bubble at a time, and you start floating up, and up... and when you break the surface you've got all your breath back.

We're going deeper tomorrow.

Based on the research of the adventurous @Les Tremendous, I have begun an ethnographic study of the Aquatic civilization. My diving suit and air compression system arrive tomorrow. Join me at noon for the dedication ceremony as we begin my descent of exploration!

I got reflecting pool water in my ear. It sounds like the ocean. And holds a song I find irresistible.

Today we worked on holding my breath. It’s a long way down if you want to visit their city, so they hold your breath for you. Today I blew a lot of bubbles and they practiced holding it.

Aquatics Fun Facts:

1. The Aquatics are not albinos. Since they spend most of their time deep in pitch-black caverns and subterranean streams, they have no need for a colorful appearance.e

2. Similarly, the large black orbs that take up most of their faces are not "eyes" in the usual sense.

3. The Aquatics are omnivorous, and will gladly gobble up soft ice cream and Cheetos®. However, only in moderation.

I never throw coins into the reflecting pool because I don’t want the Aquatics to eat them and get a belly full of nickels. But the Aquatics will throw their coins up out of the reflecting pool and onto the grass. Their coins are made of gold and worn smooth. I guess they know we won’t eat them.

The Aquatics were shocked to know I'd never learned to swim, and they were super curious and interested and BEGGED me to let them teach me. So I've been dipppin in the dark waters of the reflecting pool and I had no idea swimming was so easy!