far back the dark water column fading from teal to near black, with a faint school of silver fish crossing high up.
in the middle an old diver in a round brass helmet walking slowly along a sand ridge, holding up a glass lantern full of glowing green plankton, a line of curious jellyfish drifting behind him like ducklings.
up close tall ribbons of kelp parting around the ridge, a startled octopus tucked into a barnacle covered anchor, and small shells scattered on the sand catching the lantern light.
the layers, back to front · one pair of hands each
