Wow, 5 days in Cozumel and it still feels like Island time. Had a beautiful trip. Weather was very pleasant. It wasn't real hot and not too much wind. It would rain a little every afternoon but that was OK. You wouldn't believe the rainbows. On Wednesday we had a double rainbow. The colors were absolutely fabulous.
My thought for the day: "Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined." Henry David Thoreau
The diving was truly amazing again. All of our dives were on the south end of the island. Monday we dove Devil's Throat and Palancar Cave. Tuesday we dove Maricaibo and Columbia Deep. Wednesday we dove Punta Sur and Cedral Wall. By the end of the third day I think we could have gone into deco in a bathtub. For those of you that don't dive that means we spent a lot of time in deeper water and had a Nitrogen load in our bodies. (That's what happens to divers.) The Nitrogen eventually works its way out of your tissues and you're OK. Well, you're OK even with the Nitrogen in there, just better when it's out. Our dives averaged out to 88 minutes. Our average depth was 134 feet. We saw huge turtles (Hawkbills), a lot of large Black and Nassau groupers, we didn't see any green Morays though, that was a bit strange. We did, however, see and kill 46 Lionfish. They are on the deep walls and have no natural predator in the Carribbean. They will kill and eat anything so they are not a welcome site. They will find a nest of another species and wait until the eggs hatch and literally eat every fry that hatches and exposes itself. Most of the divemasters carry a small hand spear gun and a pair of shears to cut off the poisonous spines. There is a restaurant in Coz that will cook them for you if you bring them in. I don't eat fish so I left that pleasure to the others. LOL.
We stayed at the Wyndham. It is a beautiful place but extremely large. We think it was actually 4 separate resorts and Wyndham bought them and made them into one giant complex. The Wyndham proper is open to families etc; the Sabor, (where we were), is adults only; the Aura is also adults only and is a step up from Sabor; the Regency is a time-share complex. Each has its own pool, restaurants and spas. You have to wear a bracelet to get into anything. Each level has a different color: Wyndham - yellow; Sabor - brown; Aura - black; Regency has to go through a locked access so you need a pass key. The meals were all very good but a bit strange. On Monday night it was Asian night - all the restaurants were serving asian food. Tuesday was Middle Eastern food and Wednesday was Italian. It was a little weird to be eating a formal Italian dinner in a Mexican restaurant. Oh well, I enjoyed all the food anyway. In Sabor, if your room is on the ground floor, you walk out your patio door and step into a pool. If you want to go down to the main pool you simply get on the water slide and take a ride down. Each unit has a slide into the main pool, it was really neat. There was access from the ends of each of the small pools so everyone could use the slides.
Oh, I forgot to mention, the Monday before we left for Cuzumel, my dive buddy and I drove to Black River Falls and did a dive in Wazee. Water temp 43 degrees. Then we get to Cozumel and dive in 85 degrees.
We're headed back to Wazee this weekend. If the weather looks OK (no rain), we'll probably camp. I am so happy when dive season starts. Okay, I've rambled on and on for long enough. Check back tomorrow for even more fun.
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
7 April 2010
Wow, it's Wednesday already. Well, OK, it's almost Thursday now but it's still Wednesday.
I thought I would start putting a thought for you to ponder in my blog each day. Some of them are old and have been around a while, but they still give you pause to wonder. So here goes: Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is no money in the account?
I got my bicycle out today, didn't ride very much, too windy. But I did get the chain and derailers lubed so it's all ready to go. It felt good to be riding. I'll have to build up some stamina, I'm really out of shape from the winter. We usually get some diving in in Jan, Feb, and Mar, but not this year. Not enough ice in Jan, too cold in Feb and then it warmed up and the ice went below minimum thickness. That really bites. I love ice diving. It is so gorgeous under the ice I don't know how to describe it. You have to experience it to appreciate the absolute beauty. You don't even notice the water temp when your down.
Spent some time today working with a new beading project. I design and create little critters with safety pins and beads. I have a series of cats called Chubby Kittys, I have a series of bunnys called Chubby Bunnys, I have a Leprechaun complete with his Pot 'O Gold, I have Pilgrims, an Owl (going to add more to this one), and an entire family of Snow Persons - Papa, Mama, Baby Boy and Baby Girl. I'm working on a Beaver and a Squirrel. I'm also finishing up the design and pattern for a three-masted pirate ship. This is one very large project! About 16 inches tall and about 20 inches long. Lots of beads and pins. I have a website specifically for these projects; it's called The Bead Asylum - the place to go when the world drives you crazy. www.thebeadasylum.com if you want to check it out. It is a work in progress so new stuff gets added frequently.
We have a Wii at home and love the bowling and the billiards. I bowled a nice series tonight: 222, 171, 247. Don't know what happened the second game but just couldn't hit the pocket. I won at Billiard too. I refuse to play against CJ in the shooting, she kicks my butt every time. We're pretty even at the golf and she rocks at Baseball and Table Tennis - I suck at both.
I started the Wii Fit program today, so I'll keep you updated with my progress. The step is fun, except I'm always going the wrong direction. I keep falling over in the Yoga so I'm hoping that gets a lot better. I guess when you're diving you don't necessarily need good balance. The water does that for you. Got to fix that.
I hope you all have a good night and I hope you'll all check back tomorrow.
Check out my other pages too.
I thought I would start putting a thought for you to ponder in my blog each day. Some of them are old and have been around a while, but they still give you pause to wonder. So here goes: Why do banks charge a fee on 'insufficient funds' when they know there is no money in the account?
I got my bicycle out today, didn't ride very much, too windy. But I did get the chain and derailers lubed so it's all ready to go. It felt good to be riding. I'll have to build up some stamina, I'm really out of shape from the winter. We usually get some diving in in Jan, Feb, and Mar, but not this year. Not enough ice in Jan, too cold in Feb and then it warmed up and the ice went below minimum thickness. That really bites. I love ice diving. It is so gorgeous under the ice I don't know how to describe it. You have to experience it to appreciate the absolute beauty. You don't even notice the water temp when your down.
Spent some time today working with a new beading project. I design and create little critters with safety pins and beads. I have a series of cats called Chubby Kittys, I have a series of bunnys called Chubby Bunnys, I have a Leprechaun complete with his Pot 'O Gold, I have Pilgrims, an Owl (going to add more to this one), and an entire family of Snow Persons - Papa, Mama, Baby Boy and Baby Girl. I'm working on a Beaver and a Squirrel. I'm also finishing up the design and pattern for a three-masted pirate ship. This is one very large project! About 16 inches tall and about 20 inches long. Lots of beads and pins. I have a website specifically for these projects; it's called The Bead Asylum - the place to go when the world drives you crazy. www.thebeadasylum.com if you want to check it out. It is a work in progress so new stuff gets added frequently.
We have a Wii at home and love the bowling and the billiards. I bowled a nice series tonight: 222, 171, 247. Don't know what happened the second game but just couldn't hit the pocket. I won at Billiard too. I refuse to play against CJ in the shooting, she kicks my butt every time. We're pretty even at the golf and she rocks at Baseball and Table Tennis - I suck at both.
I started the Wii Fit program today, so I'll keep you updated with my progress. The step is fun, except I'm always going the wrong direction. I keep falling over in the Yoga so I'm hoping that gets a lot better. I guess when you're diving you don't necessarily need good balance. The water does that for you. Got to fix that.
I hope you all have a good night and I hope you'll all check back tomorrow.
Check out my other pages too.
Tuesday, April 6, 2010
6 April 2010
What a great day. It rained most of the day, but we need the water. It's a good trade-off. The rain will help wash the winter away.
Went diving yesterday, it was fabulous. Leaving soon for a few days in Cozumel, MX. We will be diving Maricaibo and Punta Sur. These are two of the deepest reefs on the south end of the island. Maricaibo is so beautiful. You drop off the boat and drift down to 90 ft to the top of the wall. Then you drop over the wall and look at this gorgeous blue-black water below you. As you drift down the wall and down in depth you are amazed by the variety of colors and life that greets you. You don't think about the blue-black water below you that goes down to about 3000 ft. All you think about is how relaxing and peaceful it is down there. Just you, the bubbles, and the fish. Then you check your air gauge and it's time to start your ascent. You enjoy the sealife as you gently ascend along the wall to the top of the wall. Everyone checks their air supplies and makes the switch over to the deco gas and you start your ascent to the surface. You pause along the way at 60 ft; 50 ft; 20 ft and 10 ft. Then finally you break the surface and the boat is there to pick you up. You get on board and open an ice cold water and there is usually fresh mango or papaya waiting to be gobbled down. You sit back in the sun and enjoy the ride to the next dive site. The next one is usually only about 75 to 100 feet deep so there isn't a lot of deco time involved in it. But there is still a lot of sea life and beauty to behold. After the second dive, you head back to shore, rinse your gear, take a shower and change clothes (we usually sneak in a nap around this time), everyone meets up for dinner then it's off to bed so the whole scenario can begin anew with the dawning of new day. No wonder I love diving.
We have several trips planned this year. A few to the Great Lakes, one to Bonne Terre in MO. Thats an old lead mine that flooded and it maintained for SCUBA diving. It's beautiful - but that's a whole nuther story.
I just love to hear those four magic words: "The Ice Is Out".
Went diving yesterday, it was fabulous. Leaving soon for a few days in Cozumel, MX. We will be diving Maricaibo and Punta Sur. These are two of the deepest reefs on the south end of the island. Maricaibo is so beautiful. You drop off the boat and drift down to 90 ft to the top of the wall. Then you drop over the wall and look at this gorgeous blue-black water below you. As you drift down the wall and down in depth you are amazed by the variety of colors and life that greets you. You don't think about the blue-black water below you that goes down to about 3000 ft. All you think about is how relaxing and peaceful it is down there. Just you, the bubbles, and the fish. Then you check your air gauge and it's time to start your ascent. You enjoy the sealife as you gently ascend along the wall to the top of the wall. Everyone checks their air supplies and makes the switch over to the deco gas and you start your ascent to the surface. You pause along the way at 60 ft; 50 ft; 20 ft and 10 ft. Then finally you break the surface and the boat is there to pick you up. You get on board and open an ice cold water and there is usually fresh mango or papaya waiting to be gobbled down. You sit back in the sun and enjoy the ride to the next dive site. The next one is usually only about 75 to 100 feet deep so there isn't a lot of deco time involved in it. But there is still a lot of sea life and beauty to behold. After the second dive, you head back to shore, rinse your gear, take a shower and change clothes (we usually sneak in a nap around this time), everyone meets up for dinner then it's off to bed so the whole scenario can begin anew with the dawning of new day. No wonder I love diving.
We have several trips planned this year. A few to the Great Lakes, one to Bonne Terre in MO. Thats an old lead mine that flooded and it maintained for SCUBA diving. It's beautiful - but that's a whole nuther story.
I just love to hear those four magic words: "The Ice Is Out".
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Saturday 3 Arpil 2010
Well It's a great day. The ice is out and we'll be diving on Monday. (Thought it might be best not to go diving over the Easter holiday weekend.)
Regs are all tuned up and ready for a new season. I got all my seals treated and all my zippers lubed so exposure gear is ready to go. We have some great trips planned for the summer so stay tuned and I'll keep you updated. We're going to be going to the Great Lakes a few times and diving on some great wrecks.
Regs are all tuned up and ready for a new season. I got all my seals treated and all my zippers lubed so exposure gear is ready to go. We have some great trips planned for the summer so stay tuned and I'll keep you updated. We're going to be going to the Great Lakes a few times and diving on some great wrecks.
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