Here the face mask represents reality, but she has more breath- holding powers than a Japanese ama, becoming a goddess of the questing spirit...a risk taker. Winslow Homer was accused by some of being racist for depicting a black castaway surrounded by sharks. Exasperated, he wrote a somewhat satirical "outcome" in which the castaway was picked up by a passing ship. In a similar spirit, let it be known that this swimmer respects the ocean but has no irrational fear of it and does not become part of the food chain.