Just More Diving....

Sometimes I wonder why I got started scuba diving back when I was living in Zihuatanejo...Actually this is me now...(thank you Jami)....It wasn't necessarily a guy...as some might think. Yes, I was going to cruise down the Pacific Coast to Costa Rica at that time...and I remember thinking that with everything you hear about Costa Rica diving...I should scuba dive there. But, I really think it was that one of my friends at that time, Ann (who is still living in Zihuatanejo) and I were going to take the classes together with some cruisers that I had met...and I thought we had gotten a good deal price wise. Ann and I had talked about doing a few "crazy" things together...this was going to be one of them.
Peacock Flounder.........

Unfortunately Ann caught a cold so did not end up taking the class but I went ahead as planned (I don't believe that Ann has learned yet). I have always taken an underwater camera with me...and still have pictures of my first moments underwater.

Maybe that is why I continue to enjoy taking pictures of others taking their first breaths under water too...and actually this is Jami congratulating his student on completeting his Open Water Scuba Certification water skills. When Paul learned (wow, almost two years ago now)...I decided that I wanted to take my scuba diving to the next level to assist us in our travels...and our diving together...which lead to the next level...and now to the PADI Instructor level that I currently have. I have gone from seeing the big things of diving... to the very very small things of diving all as wonderous and worth taking pictures of!I guess what I'm saying is...that it has been fun and reflective to accompany Jami on some of his training dives...and of course bringing my (small) camera! I even mentioned to Jami the other day about enjoying the buoyancy courses that some places have and look what he found for me on Roatan!! Yes, I know it is the little things!!So Ann...I don't even know if you keep up on this blog...I haven't emailed you in forever...but it was you who agreed to learn to scuba dive with me in the first place that got me started...so if you still want to learn to scuba dive...let me know...for me...it's more pictures...it's more watching people learn to enjoy breathing underwater...it's just more diving...

Good News and Jello...

A good friend of ours that follows our blog...and is a cruiser too...has said something about his plans being made out of Jello! I bring this up as in the last blog I shared our plans that we were going to be on our way to Colon right now...and yet...today...we are still tied up at the dock here in Roatan! So the good news is I was able to observe Jami as he taught scuba skills to another cruiser yesterday...
It was wonderful to watch as Jami patiently guided his student to her first breaths under water!
And then, he and I got to go on a short dive to the wall again...this is the DC-9...we passed it quickly to get to the wall again...the visability is getting MUCH better...so I have pictures (okay, only some of you think the pictures are good news)...The wall again...

Yes, me under the wall...(thank you Jami). I only took the small camera because I need to take the time to figure out what is going on with the flash on the big one...

This wall is absolutely beautiful...

And, once again...the pictures do not show the artwork present here...
But...I'm going to keep trying to share it with you...Peacock Flounder on our way back...A little guy I was watching as we did our 3 minute safety stop......

This barracuda was brought to our attention when a snorkler came swiming very fast above us and motioned to us with his arms...we both thought there might be something wrong...we followed him...and found this guy just resting. So I could mention our current plans...but, I must be hungry...because I'm thinking...now doesn't that sound really good right now...jello??? Then again maybe I'm just missing opening my mom's fridge and having cold jello always there! My mom makes the BEST Jello...I love you mom!!...

Plans....

I took a cab over to West End again to pick up our regulators...and of course take another dive while there...I was so excited that with carrying only my dive stuff I would be able to take my big camera! Paul was staying on the boat to repair the sump pump. Again, with West End Divers. They are such a great group! Our dive was to Turtle Crossing...another dive site that we had not gone to last year when we were here...

You will notice that these pictures are all of the West End area....

I had forgotten to change out the lens to the one that fits into the underwater case!!!

So while I saw (little) turtles...huge groupers...huge crabs...large green moray...and as I have always found...beautiful west end diving....no pictures!! I did remember to bring the regulators back to the boat this time though....

So yesterday, Jami and I went diving to a wall off of Fantasy Island...

This wall was one like I had never seen!

Pederson Cleaning Shrimp on Corkscrew Sea Anemone...

To get to the wall we went ....close to the wreck we had gone by earlier...

Large Squid...

Giant Sea Anemone....

And, to the wall...where the flash of my camera began acting up! So my pictures certainly do not show this wall as the magnificent natural artwork it is!!

This was a beautiful wall...around 80...maybe 90 feet at the sand bottom... and the wall itself curls over you like a huge wave would if breaking above you on top of the water...So thank you again Jami!! He was once again a wonderful guide...and only because I got to 1/2 air did we have to reluctantly turn around and go back to the dingy's.

While everything has not gone as planned while here in Roatan...we have had some great times...thanks to so many that I now call and consider friends...but back to plans....our plan today is to go check out in Coxen Hole...sail to Guanaja tomorrow...and Monday begin our 5 day passage to Colon, Panama!

Diving and Mexican Train Dominos

Saturday we took a cab over to West End for a couple of different reasons! Paul's used computer had been delivered to a friend (and part owner of West End Divers). He really wanted to get his new computer up and running! So...since we had to be on the West End...diving...!

Although because I had a whole suitcase of diving stuff to take over...I only took my small camera...
The case keeps the water out...but the zoom function no longer works on the case.

We went to Fish Den...a dive site that we did not go to last year when we were here.

Paul had had his mask stolen in Belize so he was using his old mask...then a lens popped out at the beginning of the dive so he had to use a spare that West End Divers always leave on the boat!

It was a very fun dive...Paul really loves the crevice diving with sandy bottoms...perhaps because he can look for lobster easier?

The weather for the day was quiet, sunny and beautiful...made me wish I had taken some pictures when we were over on that side of the island when the northerly was coming through. Unbelievable that it was the same area...and that the diving visability was as good as it was!

Only a little bit of sand left on this brain coral....

We both were certainly enjoying the dive....up and down through the crevices....the dive instructor/leader was wonderful...and as we were getting to the most beautiful parts of the dive...with the most fish and variety when...my camera battery went completely blank!

Then, when we got back to the boat...I REALLY wanted to download my dive profile onto the computer from my dive computer...but it seems I can't find the usb dive cable anywhere on the boat...ARGHHHHH!

And, then I found that I had not gotten our regulators packed back up in our stuff!!! Boy, was I upset...until I got the call...that sure enough our stuff had been put away safe after we had left it! Whew!!! Thankfully, I'm done with everything that went wrong...on the day...I think that's enough...and I'd rather remember the diving!!

Hopefully we will get our regulators today (or tomorrow) with the last of packages...And I meant to get a picture of all of us playing Mexican Train Dominos yesterday...the only thing to interrupt us was these cute little guys again...picture moments of mom and baby.....They will come down out of the trees to take food out of your hand and Anne had brought some chips...And, Jeanie knows I always take my camera with me...she mentioned that she had seen these little critters...so on the walk back to the boat just had to take a few...Oh, and for all...we have learned some new rules for Mexican Train Dominos...and even have been keeping score! This time Paul was the lucky one with MTD...he won...