Kekaha Kai State Beach

Night Dive

Remember to take time for you: Go on fun dives every now and then so you don't burn out on diving!

This was the advice given to me by my PADI Instructor-Examiner back in December. Last night, six months later, I finally took that advice. Sort of...
A fellow Instructor noted that, with all 3 jobs, my last day off had been May 12th (a day of a Kawaihae Canoe Club regatta that took up all the space and parking at the pier). Last weekend I worked three days (holiday) on the boat, and I found myself stressed and upset about the dives. On one dive I misunderstood the specific coral balmy the guests wanted to visit, and I led them to another one instead. On another day, I couldn't find any turtles for guests who really wanted to see them.
I know, I know:
I can't MAKE people have a good time.
The Ocean isn't a zoo: There are no guaranteed sightings here.
I can't re-create an exact dive that someone enjoyed in the past.

The only thing I can do is keep people safe, return them to the boat, keep up the friendly standard of Aloha, and try to show them some neat things. Much of their good time has to do with their own attitude, and just plain luck in seeing something cool. Those amazing dives that you remember and want to re-create? Often they were good because you were relaxed, and happy, and maybe you saw one big-ticket animal. The sure-fire way to make sure you see nothing at all is to really really want to see it!

So last night I went on a night dive with my fabulous dive-buddy bf. We went on the boat, so I worked in as far as slinging tanks, setting up gear, and working the lines. But I didn't have to lead anyone on dives. I informed my buddy that we were staying away from people, I was not going very far, and I might turn off my light.
Plan your dive and dive your plan:
We were first in the water and descended in blackness, right over a huge free-swimming moray eel. I then led us off to an area filled with big coral heads in about 50 feet of water. We stayed in that area and saw shrimp, crabs, lobster, nudibranchs, urchins, sleepy fish, cowrie shell, cucumbers, worms, sea stars, and a Spanish Dancer. When we got too focused on the tiny spot our lights illuminated, we turned off the lights and floated in the dark. At one point dbf flailed his arms and fins and swam like crazy in a circle around me, then swam back and watched as it appeared I was floating in a black sky of plankton stars. We could see by moonlight, and I found my way around the site in the dark. When we ascended after an hour, the sky was full of real stars and I was calm and happy.
Saturday I may have off, and we are filling tanks in case it is a day for more fun diving.

Hooray!

"Hooray Hooray The First of May! The Outdoor Fucking Begins Today!"

My college roommate's mother cross-stitched this ditty on a pillow and displayed it in her street-side front window every May First. How awesome is that?
May you have a joyful Spring!

Diving with a Monk Seal!

This Saturday I had a fabulous drift dive in between two of my favorite dive sites, and about 10 minutes into the dive, we were joined by an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal! We didn't approach him, and attempted, with the current we were trapped in, to not scare or move towards him, but the seal was very interested in us! He would sneak up behind someone, then, when he was discovered, he would check out the diver head to toe, play with the bubbles, shoot to the surface, bounce the mooring ball, and otherwise show fun, curious behavior! It was really amazing.
He had a transmitter on his back, and his flipper-feet were tagged with #42-43. I called NOAA and let them know.
On Sunday I dove with this fabulous jewelry designer! Check out her stuff!
(Cute Monk Seal Photo courtesy NOAA.)

Lookit What My Bro is Digging About In!

My awesomely smart and handsome brother (lookit him!) is keeping this BLOG as an assignment for his selection in the NASA Spaceward Bound! Mojave 2007 program! From what I understand, it is a program that mimics the type of scientific research that is/will be happening in space exploration. Among other things, it is meant to encourage future or current Science educators to teach the future students of astrophysics...and the future employees of NASA! Right on!

Moored Sailing Canoe, Sunset, Lahaina Maui

Vampyr Slayer?

Did you guys see this?
Vampire slayer impales Milosevic to stop return
Apparently, in the witching hour of the eve of the first anniversary of his death in UN Prison, Milosevic got a 3 foot Hawthorne stake driven through his heart. Apparently this was to keep him from returning from the dead and sucking even more blood from (former) Yugoslavia.
I cannot imagine the pain that area must be in, and I hope this somehow, strangely, helped. Evil really does walk among us!

Coconut Bombs

Yup.
That's a guy (Phil) who climbs coconut trees and saws off old frond branches and precarious clusters of coconuts. Very entertaining to watch coconuts crashing to earth, bouncing along the ground, and bursting open. Tasty fresh coconut water!

Whales of March

On Saturday, leading dives with Kohala Divers, the Whales were singing. On the surface, we saw many curious calves and their protective mom's and male escorts. The baby whales are getting big enough to try out the moves: little spy hops and sounds and many curious surfacings. A friend even spied a mom teaching her calf to breach: The mom would jump out of the water and come crashing majestically down, followed by the calf struggling out and flopping down after her. So cute!
It is March, and that means these lessons in adult behavior will culminate in the whales leaving us for cooler, Northern, summertime waters. Just as I nervously anticipate their arrival in November, I dread the slow trickle as they leave the islands. Every week, the sightings decrease and the songs grow fainter; from a chorus to a solo to silence. I love to share the water with them. People in other places must feel that same awe and joy with the large creatures in their world: The bears or lions. Here we have the glimpses and songs of these leviathans. I am thankful for their visits.

TGI(n)F: Thank Goodness It's NOT February!

The Great Grey Beast is past us, and may I take this opportunity to wish you all a fabulous March! This month gets us past the dreaded February and into Spring, which brings flowers and happiness and Girl Scout Cookies!

I saw the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet company last night at the Kahilu, and it was a wonderful way to usher in the new Month!