Scuba Diving Certification - Blue Grotto & Rainbow River

For the past few weeks my bestie Deborah and I have been on a mission to finish our scuba diving classes. My new friend Jack, who is Deborah’s neighbor and manager at Divers Supply in Marietta, was kind enough to take time out of his evenings to teach us necessary knowledge and know how to dive. Needless to say that four classes on four separate days averaging 3.5 hours per lesson in a two week time span is valuable time. So valuable that I’d like the chance to thank them for the umpteenth time, once again.

So, it’s happening… my crawl is turning into a footstep and my footsteps are about to turn into a giant stride, literally. One of my new favorite ways to enter the water with all of my scuba gear on is called a giant stride. In the movies you may always see people roll backwards off the side of a boat… tbut his is another form of entry into the water.

My Open Water Certification took place in the company of two Master scuba divers Kuba and Chris. Both which have over 1000+ dives easy. Two characters which made the weekend fun for the 15 of us newbies to the scuba world.

After our first diveon a Saturday afternoon my depth guage read 38 ft. at Blue Grotto near Lake City Florida. [ My deepest dive to date ] :) I think I went a little deeper than I was suppose to, but still stayed on the rope to follow into and out of the cavern. This was a strange first dive because for cavern dives, you do not have a straight ascent. You have to go up at an angle, or through the cavern to even see natural light. We did not go that deep to where it was pitch black, we always had natural light - but the fact that there was an overhang of the natural cavern was a bit strange for the first logged dive.

Second and third dives were used to practice the skills we learned in the pool during training. Mask clearing, buddy breathing, navigation, bouyancy, CESA (ascent procedure) and much more! But by the third dive, the 72 degree water took its tool on our bodies. We were pretty cold by the last dive as most of the heat from your body escapes through your head, plus... when you attempt 3 dives a day, your heat is lost naturally the more you are in the water. So our last dive was cut short a bit, but still worth it! (shivering)

The next day, Sunday - bright and before the sunrise we were off in to Rainbow River, a natural hot water spring which was absolutely devine. The manatees usually swim upstream in this river, however where we dove the manatees do not have access that far upstream. I saw turtles, fish upon fish of many sizes and schools, a pike some of the coolest scenery I've ever seen. Plus it was a drift dive which pretty means you stay bouyant and the river helps you along - naturally - down stream with its current.

Here are more pictures via facebook here: http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2014775&id=78100760

Divers Supply offers free scuba diving intro classes ever first and third Wednesday of the month. They also provide trips monthly on location to get your scuba diving certification. Check their website here for more information if you interested in starting to scuba dive!

http://www.divers-supply.com/Divers-Supply-Marietta-C118.aspx

Thank you

I wanted to take a moment to say thank you to everyone who has done nothing but support me throughout this crazy/fun/unpredicted and somewhat sudden transition in my life. I have had positive responses and encouraging words.

I especially want to thank my close family and friends - without naming names at the risk of leaving any ones name out - you know who you are... Thank you.

And to my Mom and Dad... you both are unbelievable and have always supported me in whatever my quest was or will be still. With your love and support thank you for seeing me off at the airport. I will always be thinking of you, thank you one thousand times. I love you.

CHI-CHI-CHI-LE-LE-LE

Second round Santiago, Chile. Back to visit Matt before my journey to Australia commences. A grand time we had climbing mountains, walking the streets of Santiago, and eating food even Anthony Bourndain recommended. You can check it out here on Matts picture video of his last 9 weeks… http://matt-suggett.blogspot.com/

Ate at Fuente Alemana which is the same restaurant Anthony Bourdaine went to, and had this gigantic heap of goodness, or about a quarter of it because: 1. I couldn't fit it in my mouth, the sandwhiches are so big you have to cut it w/ knife and fork, and 2. did you see how big it was in Matts video?? :)

Then, as you may have seen we traveled via bus to Argentina! Crossing the Andes Mountains a total of two times with views that could be said put some American mountain ranges to shame… yes, I just said that. No pictures will be able to do it justice, but there are a few to look at in the picasa web album: http://picasaweb.google.com/gatesjulia/ChileAndArgentina#

After arriving in Argentina, we scoped out the town of Mendoza. (After being lost for a little bit), heading the wrong direction-away from the hostel for about 30 min, ha… not my fault right Matt? Needless to say, both of us had to agree on the direction heading hence forth on any expedition – by car or foot.

We sampled the best beers and wines along with some fantastic concoction of a two person grill out. A miniature hot grill gets served on your table with its contents… well – on the delicate side. Chicken, ribs, meat sausage, blood sausage, pig intestine and kidney. So I tried it, all of it and was sorry later… yikes. No sickness arose, just a nauseous roller coaster in my tummy.

We did a wine and bike tour as well! A majority of the vineyards in the area are pretty close in retrospect… ON A MAP! But when you are peddling for hours out of the day – your bum starts to hurt and you get a little winded. I was leading the duo taking the front position, and pace slowed at times, and I got snickered at for slowing down, ha. I mean… you arrive at 11am and the bike company tells you to have the bikes back between 6 and 7pm, that means you have a long day ahead. But I wasn’t the only person to take a wrong turn… A couple hundred meters in the wrong direction…. A waste of perfectly good energy… Mr. Direction missed our turn so we had to go back to that destination where we had lunch. And mmmm…. Was it good, but at least Matt and I had both mocked up directions... ha

The next day we went White Water Wrafting in the Andes Mountains! Sweet scenery, some class three rapids and a non-talkative guide made for a fairly eventful trip in and of itself. We celebrated the successful journey with another “mini-grill” lunch with veggie sides in celebration of not falling out of the boat and enjoying the scenery some more (minus the intestine and kidney).

Journeying back through the Andes mountains totaling an eight hour bus hall including the two hour stop at the Chilean border got us back into Santiago for a Wine-apple celebration with friends Matt works with and a sad sunset because we were going climb to the top of Santa Lucia, but the park closed due to the sun had already started to descend.
There wer e also some stray huskies outside of the super market who looked like bears, and one looked dead (to the right and upside down) but he was just taking a nap. These dogs are notorious for being just outside the market to get any snag of food they can, or perhaps a pat on the head. But if you ask Matt, do not run past them, or deem yourself being chased by a chunky husky. Ha!

Leaving day arrived and with little energy to spare after an eventful weekend, so we enjoyed each others company packing my life in two bags and taking a little stroll around town for lunch. Sushi was debated as a final meal; however I thought it best not to attempt raw fishery products before a long plane ride. So we settled for Chilean Pizza.

Arriving at the airport shortly thereafter, I felt the anxiousness and un-security arise of the journey I was in for. I suppose it was more the fact of having to say goodbye… again… to a partner and friend of five years, but still knowing in the back of my mind that it would only be two months this go around before Matt and I saw each other again- made me a bit at ease.
Holding back tears for the final hug and kiss goodbye, I turn away and head to the security checkpoint, a torrential “tear” fall commences and the security guards look at me like I’m crazy. I finally get on the plane, and all I want to do is sleep the pain away...

here are the dogs and a funny pic to end with on a somewhat happy note, but be sure to check out the picasa web album here of Chile and Argentina... let me know if you want to see more pics :)
http://picasaweb.google.com/gatesjulia/ChileAndArgentina#