Sorry for the late entries but we only have internet connection until 9 pm and most days we don’t get done with class work until 8. This leaves little time to get the Blog done but we will do what we can to keep you informed.
Another tiring day complete. Open Water divers completed 2 open water skills dives and were treated to Nassau Grouper, Ocean Triggerfish, Squid and a sea turtle close enough that they could have touched it (but respectfully didn't). This was their first view of the reef and their first view of a coral reef from below the surface. They returned with exciting stories about what they saw and were proud to announce they had seen a Nassau Grouper before Mr. Nowicki (yes I was jealous!) They also completed all their skills for their instructors. Then back to the classroom to learn about dive tables and planning safe dives. Tomorrow it is back in the ocean for more skills and then written exam. Then it is one more dive, the next day, to complete their certification.
Advanced divers completed 2 dives. The first was a deep dive to a sunken wreck at 108 ft. See the picture for proof (I was standing on the bottom hence the 106ft.) After the skills at depth divers toured the wreck enjoying great visibility and a school of large black groupers which followed us throughout the dive. Advanced had the afternoon off because this evening was the night dive. Mrs. McBrien described it as the best night dive she has ever been on and it certainly was memorable. Although a few students were stung by jell fish (painful but not dangerous) all were treated to some amazing treats you can only see on a reef at night. Lobsters were crawling across the bottom, their eyes glowing in the flash light beam. Our dive instructor and guide found an octopus that had just eaten a lobster and we watched it change color as it tried to glide out of our lights. The biggest treat of the dive is when we turned off the flashlights to enjoy a light show put on by small ocean organisms. In the dark you can see glowing blue dots of light from small organism that produce light to attract a mate or escape predators. For us it was like watching fire works, except we were 40 ft. underwater. Tomorrow Advanced divers complete a photography dive and then will be certified PADI Advanced SCUBA Divers.
The posts above are from our Advanced divers and describe some of the things they saw on their deep dive,
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