Gettin' Schooled

   This video reminds me of one of my favorite dives in Roatan, when I was surrounded by a large school of fish who peacefully and curiously drifted with me for a couple minutes. To be 50' underwater, soaring over rolling green mounds of coral and rippling sunlight, and accepted into their presence is an experience I shall never forget!

Divemaster training

   Today I officially began the Divemaster program through Sam's Skin n Scuba in Independence, with whom I traveled to Roatan last month. Who'd have thought back in the frigid Sarasota bay back in February 2010, when I became certified--and while the very idea of diving still terrified me--that I'd be here. KC divers have a saying, which is that Sam could sell ice to an Eskimo. That's true. Sam says, "I may be crude, but I damn sure can teach Scuba." And that is also true. What he does best, though, is assemble a group of fantastic people and talented instructors who make every experience so fun that you naturally can't wait to continue.

   And whatever it is about me that people pick up on that lets them know I'm a leader, Sam & his crew hit me up in Roatan and enticed me to cross the threshold into the professional track of diving. The first step is becoming a DM, which is a leadership role--your focus shifts from yourself to your companions at this level. It's estimated that less than 1% of the population dives, and fewer than 1 in 10 achieve the DM level, and probably even fewer than that in the good ol' landlocked Midwest. It's an achievement just to be asked to enter the program, a well as an honor and a responsibility.

   I know that I will learn critical skills to keep myself and others safe in the water--but more importantly, this is another step in my life's learning and leadership journey. Hard work in store for the next six months, but lots of fun too. And I'm excited to see where this new path will take me...

Back in KC 9/7

   I have a squeeze in my left jaw, possibly an infection in my left ear, and after running this morning, a rash on my stomach. I seem to have developed an allergy to life on dry land. Back to Roatan!!!!!!

Mobbed 9/7

I've been home for 10 minutes, and I've already been serenaded by Aki at the door, rushed by the kitty, and pinned to the couch by lover boy. Makes the transition home from vacation a bit nicer, I'd say.

   I treasure the few minutes that the animals go crazy over me. It doesn't last long, since Mary Ann spends so much time here while I'm gone. They definitely miss me, but it's clear that they aren't lonely. I'm SO lucky to have her looking out for them and me.

   Still, Kismet is making sure I never leave again:

New friends + new skills 9/6

   My trip to Roatan has been phenomenal. My goal for the trip had been to become a more confident diver, but it became so much more than that: the people have been the best part, both the locals & my fellow travelers. I felt at home immediately with the group of around 60 travelers; most hailed from KC, and a few from farther out: Liesl, Julia and Eric from Juneau, Alaska; Chad from Minnesota, Dave from Miami, and the brothers from Iowa.

   So many people from the group made a huge impression on me, and I hope to dive with them again soon, and to eventually connect with the people I didn't have a chance to spend much time with. I particularly hit it off with Dan, Jonathan, Ellen, Jackie, and the Alaska contingency--Liesl was my roommate in the fantasy over-water cabana. As one of the newest people in the group (many in this crowd have trained and/or traveled together previously), I was honored to be so welcomed and included.

   In part because I was traveling alone and we happened to be on the same boat, and in part because he was just so much fun to hang out with, I dove 26 of my 28 dives with Dan, a PADI instructor. We were all fast friends, and the bonus for me was that He was able to help me with my skills, and complete training exercises as part of our regular dives. I felt very safe with Dan looking out for me and hope to pass that on to another new diver someday.

   In all I earned several certifications (they will be official once I read the manuals and complete the written knowledge reviews): advanced open water, deep diving, underwater navigation, night diving, and (ship) wreck diving. While these are great to have in case I ever choose to dive professionally (I'm being steered toward Divemaster training by Sam, Dan, & Jonathan), the great thing is that all the practice make me a safer diver--and equip me to help others discover a sport that is quickly becoming one of my top favorites. I learned a lot from our Roatan Divemaster, Kirk, as well.

   This trip was the perfect blend of fun and education. I learned that I only need to dive with 5 lbs, not 16 (and I might be able to get to 4), I learned to use a compass, I learned to identify a bunch of fish, and I improved my buoyancy.

   I've come a long way from learning to swim less than four years ago and never dreamed all this was possible. Feeling very blessed to have had such a great trip on so many levels.

   

   

Sharktastic! 9/4

This morning my dive buddies were 9' long and toothy. We dived down 70' in the open ocean with at least fourteen 8-9' Caribbean reef sharks!

The dive operation is working on gathering and "taming" a group of hammerheads now...

Jellies! But not the delicious kind! 9/5

   Swarmed by a cloud of stinging jellyfish on tonight's dive... Hoping I will wake up with lips like Julia Roberts. #whenwilltheburningstop?

Roatan, 3 fantastic days in 9/2

   Great trip so far... Saw a nice big school of little squid yesterday, and a few more today--was able to get a video up close. A couple of large barracuda, one of which came close enough to make my heart pause for a second. Turtles, ocean triggerfish (much larger than I remembered), another adult spotted drum, garden eels, jawfish, nudibranch, trunkfish, lots of parrotfish and butterflyfish, a large gray angelfish, queen angels, trumpetfish, fairy basslets, snapper... And my best find to date: an octopus hiding in broad daylight. He was hunkered down in the seagrass shaped like an open umbrella. I saw the only thing moving: his gills. Then his eye.

   I was SO excited to show it to my dive buddy, Dan, who had saved my (very expensive) flashlight earlier on the dive. I was too low on air to dive down the 80' to retrieve it when it slipped right off my wrist. I felt lucky to be able to repay him, in a sense.

   Also excited because I was bummed to have not seen octopi on last night's 9:30 pm dive, or this morning's 4:45 am dive.

   Started my wreck diving certification today (mapping ships is HARD and requires strong on-land and in-water communication and teamwork!); also working on advanced open water. For that I've done a deep dive (it only has to be 61', but I went down to 90' today), a night dive, a wreck dive, a boat dive, and I think all I need to do is navigation Finished my night dive certification, which only requires two dives and an instructor signing. 

   It's like school but the studying is way more fun.

Roatan, 3 fantastic days in

   Great trip so far... Saw a nice big school of little squid yesterday, and a few more today--was able to get a video up close. A couple of large barracuda, one of which came close enough to make my heart pause for a second. Turtles, ocean triggerfish (much larger than I remembered), another adult spotted drum, garden eels, jawfish, nudibranch, trunkfish, lots of parrotfish and butterflyfish, a large gray angelfish, queen angels, trumpetfish, fairy basslets, snapper... And my best find to date: an octopus hiding in broad daylight. He was hunkered down in the seagrass shaped like an open umbrella. I saw the only thing moving: his gills. Then his eye.

   I was SO excited to show it to my dive buddy, Dan, who had saved my (very expensive) flashlight earlier on the dive. I was too low on air to dive down the 80' to retrieve it when it slipped right off my wrist. I felt lucky to be able to repay him, in a sense.

   Also excited because I was bummed to have not seen octopi on last night's 9:30 pm dive, or this morning's 4:45 am dive.

   Started my wreck diving certification today (mapping ships is HARD and requires strong on-land and in-water communication and teamwork!); also working on advanced open water. For that I've done a deep dive (it only has to be 61', but I went down to 90' today), a night dive, a wreck dive, a boat dive, and I think all I need to do is navigation Finished my night dive certification, which only requires two dives and an instructor signing. 

   It's like school but the studying is way more fun.

Let the cartoons begin! 9/2

   There's another cartoonist in the group! Guess which pogo-sticking manta I drew, & which Jonathan drew.

   Jonathan lives in Leavenworth and is a contractor for the army, taking photos and video (I never ever thought of that being a thing!) He'll be going to Korea soon.

   He plays a game with his artist friends: one will throw out a living thing, an adjective, and an activity. So I said, "manta ray, pogo-sticking, and... Joyful". And he said,"well obviously he'd be joyful!" So I said, "okay then--angry!"

   When he finished his drawing, I drew my version. My manta has ice cream. :)

Beautiful Roatan 9/1

   Gorgeous foliage and flowers everywhere. Our dive master, Curt, has lived here all his life and has only been to mainland Honduras a few times... And no where else in the world! Although I can't imagine staying put for so long, I am enjoying the tranquil beauty of the island. The staff leaves fresh hibiscus after cleaning our room each day. This IS the life!

Basilisk!!! 9/1

Spotted one of these guys next to the walkway this morning--a basilisk. Also known as a Jesus Christ lizard because they can spread their long toes & walk on water.

Annelid 9/2

Saw one of these on the top of the Prince Albert shipwreck last night, squirming and swirling in the darkness. It looked like a sea snake, without a head. None of us knew what it was. I just identified it as an annelid, a classification that contains earthworms and leeches. Now we're all cracking jokes about an annelid bursting out of someone's chest like an alien. ...great. Guess I won't be sleeping tonight!

Refreshing perspective 9/1

   I love the smell of salt water in the morning. And the afternoon. And the evening. Also, on the night dives. Fingers gonna be pruny all week! Wonder what Roatan looks like on land? :)

Roatan, day 1 8/31

   I could get used to this. How can I get paid to stay here and dive and screw around? Seriously. HELP.

   We arrived, wolfed down lunch, geared up and dived twice, showered, ate a huge, delicious dinner, and I'm about ready to crash from my scant 2 hours of sleep. Finally met Liesl from Juneau and she's awesome. The whole group seems to be... And there are around 60 of us!  Fun fun.

Missing me already 8/31

"Whatcha doin' with those suitcases?"
   Poor pets. I always pull my stuff together but wait til the last minute to pull them out because they all get so upset and sulky. Perhaps the one part of traveling that I really don't like. :(
   But I am...

   Although having had only 2 hours of sleep, rushing to the airport, and now trying not to panic that I'm going to miss my flight, I'm more in need of a nap than an adventure...

Roatan, Here I Come! 8/30

I hope the sharks are ready for Jen Week! 

   This photo is from the Chac Mool cenote, near Playa del Carmen, not Honduras. 'Cause... I haven't been to Honduras yet! But I won't  be able to say that anymore, in just a few hours...

Ro, Ro, Roatan Your Boat 8/30

   Less than 24 hours. Slightly excited. Wish I were packed. It will happen, somehow.

Nitrox & synchronicity 8/28

   Got my new c-card today. Ready to dive!!!!!
   I also mayyy have bought a dive computer today. I am justifying it to myself with the hundreds of dollars I saved on the single supplement fee, since I agreed to have a roommate on the trip. I haven't met Liesl yet: she was born in and lives in Juneau, Alaska. We're about the same age, she's new to diving (she'll do her certification dives on this trip; I've been on only 19 dives... A number I hope to double in the next week), and we seem to hit it off through email. Really excited to meet her!
   Another exciting meeting: as I was at the shop tonight picking up odds & ends (and the computer which I may or may not have bought), a woman came in to get some things for her dive trip this weekend. She's going to Monterrey, California to dive the kelp forests! She will hopefully see otters, seals, and great white sharks. Aaaaaand she works at the zoo--she is a keeper for the polar bears, and will be moving to the penguins when they arrive on October! How cool is that?!?! Her name is Natalie. We already decided to go on a whale shark trip together. Can't wait to catch up with her after our trips and exchange stories! :)
   It was also good to know that if this Hallmark thing ever dries up, my Scuba skills qualify me for a job scrubbing the bottom of the polar bear, otter, or penguin exhibits.