This could very easily be the longest blog that I've ever written. I am going to share my scuba story. We'll start with a photographic journey. These are a tiny portion of the pictures that were taken during these last few days. Feel free to leave comments, p.s. I really like comments.
This is BK and me on the Cessna from San Juan to St. Croix - 9 seats! Tiny plane - the clouds made it a bumpy ride and K&I were not thrilled with that but otherwise, incredibly cool we could see the beautiful blue water and different shades around the islands.
We stayed at The Buccaneer - beautiful, sprawling estate with many beautiful views.
Including the next one, the view from our front door and the next one - the view from our back door.
BK and me in front of the first sunset in St. Croix - we literally got there, found family, took this picture, had dinner and went to bed. I wasn't really ready for a picture, I'd been flying all day and I dropped my rum punch on my shirt.
Here's part of the family we found - Cheryl is behind the camera and Dad & Judy-Mom were getting ready for dinner. Justin, B, Shawn, Me, K, Jen, Scott and Mark.
Dive Day #1 June 26, 2012
Nervous! Very nervous!
This first picture is of me trying to clear my ears as I worked my way down the rope. Prior to this picture B, Justin, Mark and the dive masters (Jeff & Mike) were checking on me over and over again - doing okay?
Once I was down and my ears were cleared I was "double" okay - I spent this entire dive doing all the things that drove my brother, Mark nuts. My favorite was when he stopped me, showed me how I was kicking with his fingers, showed me my tank gauge and then showed me a slow even kick. I almost felt bad because I could tell he wanted to give me a Mark Scuba Rule but he couldn't talk - so I knew I was in for it when we got back to the boat. The picture below is Mark next to me doing one of many ridiculous hand gestures.
When I was scuba diving in the pool Michelle had me take out the regulator for a good smile - I didn't get as good of one this time, but I tried MUCH to my brother's exasperation! "Just what we need, Sherry taking out her regulator and getting choked at 60 feet!" Direct orders were given that I could ONLY do this move at my safety stops from now on!
This one is me just being a spaz in the water. Mark made an incredible video of me demonstrating some of my moves, it is very impressive - NOT! At the end of dive #1 I got low on air (just as Mark had predicted with
my sporadic kicking, gyrating and wild moves) so I went up at 38 minutes
after being at a depth of 65 feet. I was proud of this time because it
was my longest and deepest dive but then when all the boys came up with
1000psi (air left over) and at 50+ minutes I had a new goal.
B - doing it all right! Show off! Happy to have had the opportunity to dive with my son.
This is Justin and me. Notice I'm trying SO hard to emulate the correct posture and holding of gauges.
This picture was taken on the second dive - our turtle. He was magnificent and huge. He was larger than my son and our entire dive group stood in awe of him! Then we followed behind him as he left our presences - incredible experience to watch the beautiful creature. I was also particularly fond of his barnacles!
A puffer fish was one of many incredible sights - sea horse, sting rays, lion fish, eels, multitude of colorful fish, and several people (not me) saw a sea snake and sea slugs. All the beautiful pictures you see underwater - imagine them x360 and moving... beyond words.
When we turned around, I still had air but I noticed I was starting to float up. In my limited underwater scuba sign language I tried to tell Dive Master Jeff and he began towing me back to the boat. I was surprised but later found out that when you give the sign for up - YOU WILL go UP! So up Jeff and I went, my family couldn't let that moment pass so below we have the picture of me being towed back to the boat. I was embarrassed but still proud of of my 45 feet and 55 minute dive!
A favorite activity every day/evening floating in the ocean. The day before Cheryl said she saw a stingray in this area so I tried not to put my feet anywhere near the bottom. In this picture K, Sherry, Mark, B and Justin.
June 27, 2012
The Jolly Roger
Jen set up a wonderful day for all of us. A catamaran trip to go snorkeling - it was relaxing, fun and a joyful experience for everyone. The below picture is of Shawn and B.
Justin and K with a beautiful background. We were docked at Buck Island.
BK and I on Buck Island practicing our snorkeling skills.
My beautiful K!
On our way home, a few rum punches in me and we were happy after a long, fun-filled day!
The bride and groom!
When we got back to the island we had a rehearsal for the wedding. In this picture I'm elbowing myself in between the boys - I told them I belong in the middle! As you can see from the next picture I moved over so that the best man could stand by the groom - the best sister got to look pretty but didn't have to say anything (worked for me)!
June 28, 2012
Day 2 Scuba Diving
Today we went out to a wall and then came a little closer to a place they called Japanese Gardens. The trip out was much rougher and I was again a ball of nerves. Mike was our dive master again and this time it was only Mark, Shawn, Justin, Brendan and I so we had a small group making it very comfortable. I was given instructions to keep my regulator in unless I was at a safety stop at the end of my dives. I had told the boys that I was comfortable at 60 feet and they didn't seem worried about going deeper. When we got down Justin up beside me and held out his gauges so I could see that we were 85 feet down. On this dive we saw a shark. Someone showed me the sign for shark and I looked all around, trying to find it. Finally I began swimming in the direction of the shark when I saw it and realized, 'you are chasing a shark!' Back peddle! Below are pictures from that day of diving. The last dive wasn't my most exciting dive but it was my most comfortable. Finally, I purchased a t-shirt that reminded me of my safety stop on the last dive. My buoyancy was a tricky issue and my backside began floating up - Mike was adding weight to my BC to keep me down. So I bought a t-shirt with a stick figure upside down that says, "Not quite right." I think they made that for me!
First picture here is "my shark" - this is the one I chased, difficult to see but now you can see why I was chasing it.
Me & Justin
Me & Brendan
Mark's tank LOL
Lion fish - eeks
Trumpet Fish
Our cab driver was 007 so we had a little James Bond fun under water!
B
At my safety stop - look Mark I'm smiling without my regulator.
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June 29, 2012
The Wedding Day
Mark took Scott and the boys diving. I stayed with all the ladies and we beautified ourselves. Cheryl and I went for a swim, K went shopping with G'pa Harold and Cousin Jenny and then I mosied up to the spa to get beautiful hair and my make-up done. It was lots of fun! Below are just a few of the pictures of the incredible bride and groom. I am SO honored to have been a part of this day - words cannot express how happy I was standing there with my brother and his beautiful bride. Love!!
