Honduras Trip in the pipeline!

I miss being underwater… I could go down for a quick dip in the pool, but instead I want to fly over 10 hours to Honduras! Specifically a small group of islands off the coast of Honduras, the Bay Islands.

Give me 10 days here!

I’m looking at mid-June to go and thinking:

  • Flying out there over night to Roatan but go straight to Ulita
  • 3 days doing an Advanced Open Water diving course, probably with PADI this time
  • 1 day free to explore then go over to Roatan
  • Possibly 3 more days to do a Rescue Diver course as well (will require some first aid recertification)
  • Some fun dives and exploration
  • Lots of drinking!

I’ll probably have to get the Continental flight out there, so go via Houstan. Might be a bit of sleeping in the airport but so what! I need some fun!

To prepare for this, I bought myself a Panasonic DMC-TS2 Camera today!

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Diving and Leaving Caye Caulker

The last blog post from this great place

I did my dives in Hol Chan Marine Reserve with Big Fish Diving and had a great time. The first suprise was that my air and depth meters were in PSI and Feet rather than Bar and Metres as I had been trained… so had to get a quick conversion done to work out the max depth and the warning air levels.

On the way I finally clap eyes on San Pedro. I think I made the right choice with Caye Caulker

On the way I finally clap eyes on San Pedro. I think I made the right choice with Caye Caulker

The gear!

The gear!

When we got down to Hol Chan I also realised this was my first roll entry as well. Fortunately this came naturally!

Down there the highlights included my first:

  • Turtle
  • Nurse Shark (and lots off them)
  • Stingrays that I actually saw (I have been on dives with them before but didn’t spot them when others did)

Was just great to be back in the water, banter with the Canadians I was diving with and have a little fun under the sea! When I got back I found that Vancouver is also excellent for diving so I think I’ll be doing some when I’m on my feet properly!

Anyway, the remainder of the day was chilling out!

The Hostel Yard - isn't it great!

The Hostel Yard - isn't it great!

Looking out to sea from the end of the Hostel's pier - the surfline in the distance is the Belize Barrier Reef - another contender for the best island scene shot

Looking out to sea from the end of the Hostel's pier - the surfline in the distance is the Belize Barrier Reef - another contender for the best island scene shot

Tina's Hostel

Tina's Hostel

That's the Caribbean!

That's the Caribbean!

And that's what the Caribbean can do to a harbour wall. A hurricane helped out

And that's what the Caribbean can do to a harbour wall. A hurricane helped out

Chilled that evening and the next morning. In fact the only thing waking me up the next morning was the wind. It’s normal for higher winds in the evening but it was strange. That morning it was much higher!

Those palm trees are normally palm tree shaped!

Those palm trees are normally palm tree shaped!

One of the hostel dogs

One of the hostel dogs

It was then time to jump on the water taxi and head back to Belize City. Caye Caulker has been one of the surprises of this trip. So chilled and laid back!

Belize City on the otherhand, was still Belize City. Lots of taxi guys looking for attention, beggars and needs more cleaning. I found a great lunch though and got some cash before heading for the airport. I bought a few souvenirs, some Firey Hot, Belize Heat and Beware hot sauces from Marie Sharp’s! Oh they are going to burn!

Belize is worth a visit let me tell you.

Whale Shark Photos from Ko Tao

A couple of days ago I got an email I had been looking forward too. Remember on Ko Tao we got to see a Whale Shark on my last day of Open Water Certification? Well Stephanie on the boat had an underwater camera and was kind enough to email the photos!!!

P5060122This was the first thing I saw as I approached. This massive tail in the water. I couldn’t stop thinking “Jaws, Jaws, your swimming towards Jaws himself!”. (note: Whale Sharks are harmless, toothless fish that will not even try to taste you)

P5060124 Then I see it’s back! Wow! Look at those markings!

P5060125 And finally I get a good look at the front!

P5060128 The photos don’t show the shear number of snorkelers present

P5060131

P5060135 It’s more likely he will eat it than the other way around

P5060143 Anyone who could dive did!

P5060147 This is probably the best shot of them all! Look at it’s back!

Just to be clear and fair, these were not my photos.