Related, Yet So Different

We are fortunate to live in a small house clustered with a few neighboring homes on a rocky promontory jutting into the tropical Pacific ocean. This old, but not ancient, lava flow supports a colorful garden of coral, fish and turtles just below the water's surface.

On either side lies a petite beach. One of soft sand reaching far out under the waves. The other of smooth tumbled white and black pebbles. I do not understand how they can be so close, yet so different. I suppose a tricky current is to blame or, maybe, menehunes working late into the night...