Signed up for scuba class Sunday--a big deal for me since I'm a little hesitant about the 'remove your mask while under water' test. It is a one-on-one thing. Bryan will be my instructor; he is the director of something at the whale shark center. Rob (Director, in charge of everything at the whale shark center) was talking about him and got him to take me on as a student (he is certified as an instructor but normally doesn't teach).
Bryan gave me my book, loaned me the videos to watch and sent me on my way Sunday. Monday I arrived ready to test. We were supposed to meet at 9am and start the paperwork part first. I had finished my quizzes and just started on my final exam when Rob burst into the office with a very happy look on his face (this look is only slightly different from his normal happy look). The diving trip had found a whale shark while on their trip. Bryan and Rob needed to head out for pictures soon. I quickly finished my exam, bought some cookies at the store across the street, and prepared to hit the water with them.
I was the only person who was a 'customer' on the boat. Everyone else was either a scientist or a dive master who was training as a whale shark diving expert.
The actual snorkeling was slightly terrifying; it reminded me of what I think paratroupers do...jump from fast moving objects, quickly. Our captain looked for boils. A boil is where the fish are quickly surfacing. It really looks (and sounds) like the ocean is boiling. You can also see lots of birds circling the area, hoping for an easy meal.
The instructions for swimming with whale sharks:
1. wear your gear and be ready to go
2. when Bryan yells 'ready', be at the back of the boat, ready to go
3. you can't make a splash when you get in the water
---fin tips in the water pointed down, then slide yourself gently into the water (so you don't splash and scare the shark away)
That sounded easy. The actual trip was not easy; I felt like a paratrouper. What happened: the captain found a boil and raced to it (we were in a definite speed boat). When he got to the boil, he yelled "go" and that was our indication to get in the water. What I haven't told you is that the boat didn't slow down at all. We were supposed to get in the water with the boat near full throddle.
After attempting to get in without a splash from a boat moving near full speed, I was in the open ocean looking into bubbles. I couldn't see a thing. After a few seconds (maybe 5) the bubbles disappeared and there was an enormous black animal with white spots near me. The whale shark was absolutely gorgeous and close. I can't remember what I saw first because there were 6 different times we went in. One time we landed almost on top of the poor shark. Each time we definitely were swimming with it and it was amazing. I wish I had an underwater camera. One of the girls on the trip (training to be a whale shark dive master) had her camera and got some great shots. Rob promised to share the pictures with me. The scariest part of that experience was after the whale shark swam off. We were floating there in the middle of the deep blue sea. You couldn't tell if it was 100feet or 1000feet deep. Naturally I envisioned Jaws swimming up from the deep. Nothing like that happened. We were called back to the boat so we could be paratroupers again.
Tuesday Aug 5, 2008
So I passed all of my tests on Monday and was to start my water instructions today. Bryan told me to meet him at 8:30am to start with the instructions.
He strolled up about 9am or so. No worries, we're in Honduras. Shortly after he arrives, Bryan informs me that he has a 10am meeting. We're in the water only a few minutes and then it is 10am. Luckily we were able to finish the first lesson before the meeting. I had water stuck in my ear and couldn't get it out. I hate that but I know that if you are patient it will eventually come out.
Two hours passed, Bryan came out of his meeting and we ate lunch together before hopping back in the water.
We got through most of section two before we got to the 'fill your mask up' part. He walked me through it and we went slow. I did ok with the fill your mask half way and then empty it. When we got to the 'fill your mask up, remove it, put it back and then empty it' part I basically freaked out. I knew I would have trouble with that part and I was correct. Luckily Bryan was patient and we did other things to calm me down, like playing underwater frisbee.
We descended down, making sure to equalize the ear pressure. I realized that my left ear wouldn't equalize. When we got to the bottom, my ear really hurt so I signaled that I needed to go up. He asked me questions (about my ear) and determined that we needed to end the session then so I could get my ear checked out. We only had one more part to finish on part two--the 'fill your mask, remove it, put it back on and clear it' part of the test. He said we could finish it the following day.
I went to the hyperbaric chamber (next door) and the lady looked at my ear with the ear thing (can't remember the name of the instrument). It was inflamed, swollen, and bleeding. Hmmm...not really good. She told me that luckily my eardrum didn't burst. whew.
No underwater for 1-2 days.
Bryan and I determined that I would return to her the following day to get her ok for my return. If not, there was no way I could finish the course (since we leave Saturday).
Wednesday Aug 6, 2008
I waited until the afternoon to head over to the hyperbolic chamber for my ear check. She looked in and said that there was no blood and the swelling had gone down a lot. I asked if I could go under and she said I could (as long as it didn't hurt). Woo hoo--back to trying to scuba.
Bryan and I practiced the mask bit and I got the mask filled half way but still was anxious about the other part (removing it completely and putting it back). To calm me down, he suggested we do a quick swim around the pool. As soon as we were more than a foot under water, my other ear refused to equalize. I tried and tried but it wouldn't clear. It didn't hurt so I wasn't worried but I knew it wasn't good. I signaled to Bryan that my ear wasn't good so we surfaced. He agreed that it wasn't good and that we should stop. Sad times--no diving license for me this time. I get to keep the credits I earned for a year (so I can continue somewhere else).
I returned home defeated. Chris, the keeper of the house (landlord so to speak) created a golf course on the property and there were 9 holes. They played Tuesday but it was mostly his friends and Frank. They talked me into playing since they needed another person for the scramble team. One team was Frank, Mike, Randall, and James (New Zealand guy they had been diving with all week). The other team was Chris, Jody (his wife), their friend Tom (who was staying in the apartment below), and me. Chris really went all out and created tee boxes, flags and 'holes' in the sand for the balls. It was great. That game of golf quickly turned into night golf. Naturally the team I was on won.
Thursday Aug 7, 2008
I knew that I should stay completely out of the water so I stayed home. I sat around in the hammock and read a book. Very nice.
I was walking around the reef (shallow) and saw a baby lobster (so cute) and an eel. The neighbor kid was around and wanted to see it too. He tried to fish it out (promising he wouldn't hurt it--catch and release). About an hour later he ran over to our house with it. It was completely wrapped up in the line--choking itself. He thought it was already dead but I told him it wasn't. We removed the line from his neck and from his mouth. We had trouble with the hook removal. Tom got his tools and did the best he could--cut it as close as possible. The hook was all the way down. The eel could still open his mouth but I'm not sure what his outcome will be...
The guys returned from their diving and Mike was on the phone a lot. Turns out his father's condition was getting worse and he needed to leave. His father has lymphoma and hasn't been doing well. Mike wasn't going to go on the trip but his father seemed to improve some so he came. Chris helped secure plans for Mike's departure. He was able to get on a plane and off the island fairly quickly. When Chris returned from the airport 30 minutes later, we learned that Mike's father had just passed away. It is horrible to know that since Mike was trying so hard to get there. That brought the mood down quite a bit. We reallly like Mike and we have known his family for over 10 years. His dad was a great guy.
To cheer everyone up, a game of golf commenced. I declined to play this time and focused on chasing the cowfish that comes by each afternoon.
