Location: Antigua
This morning started on a rainy note when my bunkmates voice eased me out of my slumber The hike may be off because of the rain. Fortunately, the forecast lent us some sunshine for a hike on the cliffs of English Harbor, blessing my eyes but also straining my legs. The views were more than enough to make up for it, and the banana bread gave us the fuel to hike up the steep incline, recover from stick-bug scares, and actively participate in our first oceanography lecture at the peak of the cliffs. After we got back, the diving trainees worked on developing their skills by the shore, while the certified divers did whatever their heart desired, whether that be napping after an early morning or swimming to the beach. The rain, however, decided that it had given us enough kindness, with the constantly changing weather comparable to a game night with my family. But, while the on and off rain may have drenched our drying laundry before we could think of the word damp, the rain did not crush our spirits, but instead strengthened them. After our first nautical science lecture in the cockpit, the trainees finally practiced dives in the deep water, escaping the waves and the rain by going underwater. Simultaneously, the certified divers snorkeled, seeing the likes of a sea turtle taking a nap just like me earlier in the day an eagle ray, and a nurse shark. After this, we took our daily ocean showers and shared some of our favorite places over some good soup. The night is still young, of course. We have a dive planning lesson after dinner, and who knows what the evening could bring Goodnight, sleep tight, and dont let the bed bugs bite!