Diving without fins
Trip Start
Jan 16, 2008
1
14
37
Trip End
Jan 01, 2009
Utila,
Honduras
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
We've been in Utila now for just over a week and had a great time here. We arrived last Tuesday 19th and had planned staying about 4 days so we could do our PADI Open Water Scuba Diving Course and we're still here now! After the long trip across from Belize, we found the dive school we were looking, Altons, for straight away once we got off the boat.
They made a good first impression by giving us a lift in an open backed pick up truck. On the way to the place though we heard a big shout from one of the bars and looked around to see three lads we'd met a few weeks back in Puerto Escondido. Federico & Pablo, both from Argentina and Nic, from Germany. Three of the funniest guys we've met so far. So straight away we knew we were gonna like it here and also have a long night ahead of us!
Once checked in and rucksacks dropped, we set off to find the bar the lads were in. And yes.....there started a long night! We ended up with some of the instructors (way to make a good first impression) and some other divers in a really cool bar in the middle of a forest called Treetonic. The whole place was made out of shells and marbles and strange pieces of ceramics and really amazing looking. It was also completely done by one guy over around 3 years. I'm saying all this in hindsight of course cos at the time we were only interested in the next round! So a good 1st night had by all.
We started the course at 4pm the next day, so hangovers would be fine.
There was supposed to be...
Oh and by the way, for anyone who thinks or has heard you need to be sober while diving....well not here...in fact drinking is definitely encouraged!! There was only 5 of us in the group, a German guy called Hilko (more about him later!!), a Russian girl called Kate, an English guy, James, and the two of us of course. A pattern began to form very early on though, when the only three people that turned up were James, Eoin & myself. We watched some videos and did some quick quizzes, nothing to stressful. So first day of class over and couldn't complain. The next day we begun by getting all out equipment ready, tanks, wet suits, goggles etc, and we would be getting into the water that afternoon in a little confined area to begin some basic underwater techniques. As only three of us turned up on the 1st day the other 2 had to stay back watch the videos we watched the day earlier. That afternoon we got suited and weighted up and despite feeling very awkward in all the new gear we jumped in. It was a really really strange feeling under the water in all that gear cos although you can see everything, all you can hear is the sound of your own breathing. It took a few minutes to get used to not being able to breathe through your nose, but once the initial panic was over we were fine. I have to admit that I found some of the tasks harder than the others, especially taking your mask off under water and putting it back on. Me being me, the 1st thing I did was breathe through my nose and had to come to the surface cos of all the water intake.
Myself, Fred and GB (an Instructor)...
It felt horrible at the time and I lost a little bit of my nerve.However the instructor, Martin, was really good and got me straight back in and at it again. We were all quite happy we had got the 1st mini dive done and were looking forward to our 1st open water dive the next day.As the other two in the group had caught up with us now they were allowed to come on the open water dive with us, however, they turned up 45 minutes late and even the very mild mannered instructor Martin was beginning to lose his cool. Having got out to sea in one of the shops boats we suited up again and headed in to the sea for real this time! It was really amazing seeing all the fish and plants just going about their business without a care in the world. We saw a massive barracuda about 1.5 metres big and plenty of schools of fish too. We got the exercises out of the way and headed back onto the boat for a 20 minute rest before the next dive. Little by little we became a lot more comfortable and confident with the tasks and with being under 14 metres of water! Apart from Hilco annoying us loads by bumping into us loads and knocking my oxygen out of my mouth twice, we were all delighted with the progress.
Next day it was the same story, the other 2 in the class were late again and we were all losing our cool with them, cos they would come along and ask all the questions that the instructor had just answered and it was holding everyone back. But we got back in the water and did our two other dives and underwater exercises.
Nic, Fed, Tina & us in Treetonic
At the end of the day, we were "unofficially" qualified, with the exception of an exam the next day. That evening, the dive school put on a booze cruise and BBQ for everyone so we set out on that, but to be honest we felt very old as most of the people on it were all teenagers and the music was aimed at them too. Luckily for Eoin & myself we'd met up with an Irish guy from Spiddle in Galway called Mairtin and we had a great chat about all things Irish, we'd all heard bits and pieces of info that had happened back home so we shared it all and the "cruise " wasn't so painful. Back on the shore we tucked into the BBQ chicken and potatoes...sorry... "spuds" and were treated to an amazing fire show by some of the instructors and staff. We then headed out to the bar I mentioned earlier. It was a good night and resulted in getting one of the funniest photos of the trip. I'll say no more you can see it for yourself! Just a quick footnote to it, no it wasn't expected, and yes it was very sore!!!!!
Ever so slightly hungover, we did the exam & passed, we were now fully qualified....go us!!!! As part of the course, once qualified, everyone gets two "fun dives" where you just go down to have a look at stuff and don't have to worry about exercises. We decided on getting these filmed and it turned out really well. You'll have to take my word on it cos I can't upload it!
Eoin decided that he wanted to do a little bit more diving and signed up to an advanced course, budget wise, it didn't really make sense for me to do it so as a result I've had a few days of being a bum and topping up on the sunburn/tan! He's really enjoying it and has done a dive to shipwreck and will be doing a nighttime dive too, so in theory everyone's happy!
Last night however, there was a massive thunder shower as were enjoying a few drinks on the dock. So we finished them up and headed off the Bar in The Bush for Nitrox night.
With Martin our Dive Instructor
What the night entails is, you get buy a baloon filled with Nitrox Oxygen, which is used for really advanced Scuba divers. Itīs basically super compressed air, but taking a lot of it in in one go, gives you a quick head rush and on some people it can have the same effect as laughing gas! So needless to say, when mixed with Rum & Cokes, itīs nice little cocktail...as the photos show (some of which are for the lads only!!!) Eoin should finished the course tonight (28th)and we hope to fly to Panama on Saturday where we will settle until our flight to Brazil on the 16th. We're really looking forward to setting up a little base for a week or two, mainly so we can start sending stuff home that we've collected along the way and hopefully get the odd package from home too...(Barry's Tea and Tayto's would be nice, just in case anyone is interested!!!)
Will talk to all again from Panama, thanks again to everyone giving us emails and comments about the trip so far, greatly appreciated!!
Later!
James
Comments
PADI - in every sense of the word
Looks like you two are definitely having a good time!!! Some of those pics are pure cheese - moustache and raised eyebrow - what are you auditioning for? Loving the red tan - pure Irish. Hope you got a dive tshirt too.
What a Life?????
Hey there James, looks like life is good with you the photos are amazing and your tan is coming on.... however a little on the red side. Not to mind it's more than we have here. I'm still spraying mine on & a little on the orange side....
Miss ya heaps and it seems like a lifetime since ye left. Mam is asking everyday for an update from you she loves hearing all the news. Let us know as soon as you get an address so we can send some goodies to you.No news here, Olivier loves your Travel Blogs he's addicted to it and so much so he has started his own Travel Blog about his journey from France to Here..... I told him his travel days are long gone... So enjoy yours while it lasts coz once settled there's no going back..... Love Ya Loads and miss ya heaps. Caroline xxxxxxxx
hello
your both homos
hello
your both homos