Location: Saba
We woke up this morning with the anticipation of a full day of diving and Thanksgiving celebrations. The first dive group took off a little before nine, and many people from the second group started chefing away in the galley for our Thanksgiving feast. Around noon, the dive groups switched out, and work in the galley continued on. The first dive group also moved Ocean Star to a better mooring ball that had been freed up that morning. Saba is a beautiful island with an amazing landscape beneath the waves that could make anyone fall in love with diving. Everyone came back in high spirits with tales of massive schools of fish, sharks, turtles, giant fish that dwarf those of other islands, and the incredible rock and coral formations on the bottom. With everyone back on board, the focus was shifted back to our Thanksgiving dinner. With a very impressive amount of food coming out of a boat’s galley, it was time to eat. Our tables were set with Christmas candy, and we had one of the highest-spirited Thanksgiving dinners I have ever experienced. We all shared what we were thankful for under mood lighting (mostly to hide from a passing swarm of gnats) and had good laughs all around. Now a mountain of dishes remains to be cleaned to the first Christmas singalong of the year!
It is the last day I will be skipper. This is the last blog that I get to write on Ocean Star. It has been such an honor and an amazing experience that I will remember and be thankful for the rest of my life.
Pictured: Ocean Star, Steff before a dive, aboard the Sea Saba dive boat Giant Stride, Diving, Steff, and Matt preparing to more. Amy and Carolyn are sharing Jon’s coat, turkeys, Thanksgiving dinner, our table decorations, group selfie, gorgeous sunset.