usvi-on-line
The View from Luna Vista - Day 5
The View from Luna Vista - Day 5
The photography was limited again today. 
Not even a crappy cell phone photo on the boat. Today started out humid and overcast again. I ate a light breakfast and Diana went without by choice. We had to be at Low Key by 7:15 am. Yes, they have one in the morning too. We packed up our trash and headed for town. There was a line of cars behind us when we pulled over at the dumpster. When I got out of the car I found that a VI Police car had pulled up behind me. 
The officer got out of his car and I asked him if there was a problem. He said, "No, just trash," as he pulled the bag of trash out of his car.
Rush hour was terrible. There must have been 10 or 20 cars lined up from JJ's to the school.
We arrived early and the staff took note of the tardiness of the other couple. Ellen took us back to the same dive spots as yesterday, but the sharks missed their appointment with us. We did see a Southern Ray come up and check us out at Congo. I was very careful about the descent and did not have a major problem with my ear today. We worked on some skills and did a little touring then sailed back to CB for some classroom time. The quizzes weren't too hard. Everyone I spoke to before coming down here said the same kind of thing. They felt the knowledge was not hard. It's the skills and getting over the idea that you are under water that take time. This was our last day with Ellen. She is taking some time off to go to the States to prepare for her November wedding.
I brought up Stampede Chuck and his group and every one of them had the same reaction. "Oh! Those CRAZY Canadians! They were a lot of fun, but they were crazy."
After buying some new snorkel/scuba gear we found our way to the Banana Deck for lunch. We told the waitress that we were on a quest to find the best Bushwacker on the island. I told her that it was definitely in the top three. I didn't tell her that I'd only been to two bars at this point. It was a little too strong. Banana Deck is in second place behind the Beach Bar. For lunch - what else - (everyone sing along. You know you know all the words.) Cheese Burger In Paradise!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/253 ... 5bc074.jpg
By the end of that it was after 3 pm. Villa gravity had us in its grip. We need a "nitrogen nap." You divers know what I mean.
We worked on some dive table problems, checked out the Forum and post where appropriate, and prepared to go out to dinner. This sortie took us to Coral Bay. We topped off the gas tank ($.30/gallon cheaper than Cruz Bay) and found our way to Lucy's. Diana ordered Kalaloo and a house salad. Both were good. I chose the crab cakes. Those were the largest crab cakes I have ever seen. They were pretty good. Sitting there in the dark listening to the waves on the shore and watching the lights and lightning off in the distance was a good nightcap to a busy day.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/253 ... 7b0523.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/253 ... 1baa7b.jpg
We have gotten into the habit of "Forum Grace" before digging in.
There are only two more full days left. Tomorrow starts out at 7:30 am at Low Key. If we do well enough they will certify us. If not, we'll go back on Saturday for one more day. Tune in tomorrow to see if we made it.
JIM
Not even a crappy cell phone photo on the boat. Today started out humid and overcast again. I ate a light breakfast and Diana went without by choice. We had to be at Low Key by 7:15 am. Yes, they have one in the morning too. We packed up our trash and headed for town. There was a line of cars behind us when we pulled over at the dumpster. When I got out of the car I found that a VI Police car had pulled up behind me. The officer got out of his car and I asked him if there was a problem. He said, "No, just trash," as he pulled the bag of trash out of his car. Rush hour was terrible. There must have been 10 or 20 cars lined up from JJ's to the school.
We arrived early and the staff took note of the tardiness of the other couple. Ellen took us back to the same dive spots as yesterday, but the sharks missed their appointment with us. We did see a Southern Ray come up and check us out at Congo. I was very careful about the descent and did not have a major problem with my ear today. We worked on some skills and did a little touring then sailed back to CB for some classroom time. The quizzes weren't too hard. Everyone I spoke to before coming down here said the same kind of thing. They felt the knowledge was not hard. It's the skills and getting over the idea that you are under water that take time. This was our last day with Ellen. She is taking some time off to go to the States to prepare for her November wedding.I brought up Stampede Chuck and his group and every one of them had the same reaction. "Oh! Those CRAZY Canadians! They were a lot of fun, but they were crazy."
After buying some new snorkel/scuba gear we found our way to the Banana Deck for lunch. We told the waitress that we were on a quest to find the best Bushwacker on the island. I told her that it was definitely in the top three. I didn't tell her that I'd only been to two bars at this point. It was a little too strong. Banana Deck is in second place behind the Beach Bar. For lunch - what else - (everyone sing along. You know you know all the words.) Cheese Burger In Paradise!
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2148/253 ... 5bc074.jpg
By the end of that it was after 3 pm. Villa gravity had us in its grip. We need a "nitrogen nap." You divers know what I mean.
We worked on some dive table problems, checked out the Forum and post where appropriate, and prepared to go out to dinner. This sortie took us to Coral Bay. We topped off the gas tank ($.30/gallon cheaper than Cruz Bay) and found our way to Lucy's. Diana ordered Kalaloo and a house salad. Both were good. I chose the crab cakes. Those were the largest crab cakes I have ever seen. They were pretty good. Sitting there in the dark listening to the waves on the shore and watching the lights and lightning off in the distance was a good nightcap to a busy day.
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2181/253 ... 7b0523.jpg
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2113/253 ... 1baa7b.jpg
We have gotten into the habit of "Forum Grace" before digging in.
There are only two more full days left. Tomorrow starts out at 7:30 am at Low Key. If we do well enough they will certify us. If not, we'll go back on Saturday for one more day. Tune in tomorrow to see if we made it.
JIM
Man it's like some dream we live down here....
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stampede chuck
- Posts: 143
- Joined: Sat Dec 01, 2007 7:44 pm
- Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
WOW! Thanks for saying "hi" for me (us) ... guess I should have mentioned my name is Collin. We had a great time with the gang at Low Key and they treated us really well. Our instructor, Guy (Darrell) apparently had to go back to the States not long after we were there, but Jeremy, Andy and Guy took us out to the Rhone (a wreck dive) on the Hey Now, with 2 other divers. It was amazing!!
Glad to hear you're enjoying the diving. Good luck with the certification ... like you said, it's not all that hard, just more difficult getting used to being underwater and remembering all the things that you're supposed to remember. It really is a different world under there.
Enjoy the last couple of days of your vacation. Sounds like it's been a lot of fun.
Glad to hear you're enjoying the diving. Good luck with the certification ... like you said, it's not all that hard, just more difficult getting used to being underwater and remembering all the things that you're supposed to remember. It really is a different world under there.
Enjoy the last couple of days of your vacation. Sounds like it's been a lot of fun.
Collin
"Packin' up the bathing suits, gettin' out the cowboy boots. That's a sign we must be going home"
"Packin' up the bathing suits, gettin' out the cowboy boots. That's a sign we must be going home"
