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This morning we awoke to the sound of birds chirping in the distance. Though the night had been a cloudy one, soon the clouds parted, making way for a beautiful sunny day.
A quick morning dip proved to be the perfect start to a perfect day. After a hearty English breakfast courtesy of today’s lovely chef Drew, the open water divers were off to complete their skill training. Meanwhile, the certified students gathered in the saloon to watch an f20 race. The excitement of the fast-paced and action-packed race was matched only by the backhanded comments and snarky remarks from the athletes during their interviews.
The remainder of the day was filled with aquatic adventures. While the open water teams were finishing up, the certified team were enjoying swimming and snorkeling in the water, as well as many (unsuccessful) attempts to backflip off the boat. With the sun beating down, spending the day in the water was the perfect way to beat the heat. The water was crystal clear turquoise, and we found it hard to leave it, staying until our tongues were salty and our hands pruned up.
The teams reunited for a brief lunch of grilled cheeses and shared stories and laughed about how they’d spent their time apart and of the beautiful fish they had seen. They headed down together to the saloon, where they learned to use their dive tables. After a long lesson and lots of questions, the students felt confident enough in their skills to take a test on what they had learned.
After they had completed their quizzes, the groups parted once more- the open water groups returned to their dive skills, and the certified group went back to the water to snorkel and practice their dives off the bow of the boat.
Once the open water students had completed their dives, they joined the certified students in the water, swimming over to a gorgeous shipwreck teeming with life. The crew spent the next few hours swimming alongside squirrelfish, tangs, parrotfish, and lionfish; but the real showstoppers were the green sea turtles, who, despite their typically skittish behavior, were unphased both by our presence and that of the remoras that clung to their shells. We tired ourselves out following them around, taking pictures, and observing as they’d glide up to the surface for exactly three breaths before diving back down to feed on the seagrass below. By the time we made our way back to the boat, we were starving, and after some quick showers, we filled up on Yorkshire pudding and potatoes.
Since arriving, the days have felt very fast-paced, and it was nice to have a day that was a little more laid back. We’ve started to get into the groove of things, and with each day, I find myself feeling more and more at home on Ocean Star. Though we all miss our families back home, I think we’re starting to make our own little family right here in the Caribbean.
Photo 1: morning snorkel by the boat
Photo 2: A chance encounter with a majestic sea turtle
Photo 3: A remora hitching a ride on a sea turtle’s back
Photo 4: A beautiful start to a beautiful day
Photo 5: diving off the side of the boat