19 replies to this topic

[WreckWench]

These guys are so cute!

[WreckWench]

WOW! That's a great shot Ed!

[ScubaFran]

I am still getting familiar w/ this website so I posted this in the wrong forum but redoing. Didn't see this thread until today!

Trip Report
As I prepare myself for reality, I want to spend a moment relishing in the Belize trip (it went by way too fast) before going back into work mode. Now I know why Belize has the second largest barrier reef in the world. All those canyons of reef...so majestic. This was my first SD trip and I absolutely had so much fun with this group. WAY better than going the solo route and single supplements. My roommate, Carol, was awesome. She saved me from a traveler's worst nightmare as I almost left the island w/o my passport and wallet (literally minutes from departing). Someone else in the group and I noted how well Kamala paired us as roommates. Kamala also paired up the buddies really well as I was w/ Amy who was really vigilant about making sure everything was A-OK.

The Blue Hole ended up being worth all the trouble that occurred as Kamala mentioned in a previous post. Despite running on 1 engine vs. 2, having to skip the dive to Half Moon Wall/Caye due to the engine failure, we were fortunate to have BEAUTIFUL weather, calm waters, and a truly once in a lifetime experience diving the Blue Hole that day. The formations were so amazing: enormous stalactites and stalagmites in dark blue water. It was ethereal, haunting, and awe inspiring all at the same time. As we were descending, there was a large school of about 15-20 black tip reef sharks (I think) circling around. It was one of the high points of this dive. Very cool, very dramatic, and very awesome to see in real life.

The dive was smooth and easy but there was a point where I went deeper than I should have been - I was surprised at how easy it was to drift deeply - and Kamala signaled to me to shoot some air in my BC - lesson learned! Kamala made sure we dove safely and watched me like a hawk - which I am very grateful for. I learned SO MUCH by being surrounded by such experienced divers and getting their feedback! It has certainly made me a better diver and I can't wait to get back in the water.

Some first time marine life sightings for me:

• Eagle rays!
• Jawfish - so cute. I've wanted to see these curious little sand creatures for the longest time and finally did!
• Reef sharks
• Puppy/catlike nurse sharks - I've seen nurse sharks before but never such friendly nurse sharks that kept nuzzling the spear guns and lion fish bags like the way cats nuzzles a person's leg. They followed us the entire dive and came up to almost every diver like they wanted attention.
• Never seen moray eels swimming completely out of their crevices during the day time! One seemed to get into a trancelike dance w/ Doris and she quickly kept a safe distance from it.
• A seahorse! We didn't see it on a dive but saw it from the dock.

One other first time thing was eating beer battered lion fish and it was GOOD...courtesy of Doug and Amergris Caye Brewery.

BEFORE:

AFTER:

These are the dive locations we went to. I didn't capture 1 or 2 so if someone can fill in the gaps, that would be great! *Edited* Thanks Kamala.

12/27
1. Mermaid's Lair
2. San Pedro Canyon
3. Hol Chan Cut
4. Hol Chan Marine Reserve - night dive

12/28
5. Tacklebox
6. Esmerelda
7. Tuffy Canyon

12/29
8. Blue Hole
9. Eagle Ray Canyon & Aquarium

12/30
10. Mexican Rocks
11. Dos Cocos
12. Victoria

12/31
13. "Tranquility Reef at Tranquility Bay Hotel" - I don't think there's an official name for this one.
14. Same as above

1/1
15. Nurse Shark/Sting Ray Alley (not sure of actual name but this is where the 4-5 nurse sharks followed us the entire dive and were very friendly)
16. Esmerelda
17. ? - wasn't there for the last dive.


Trip to San Ignacio - after the dives...

I went back to the mainland on the last day of diving but was able to squeeze in 2 dives that day...close to 50 but not quite. One unintended bonus of going on this trip w/ this group was that there were others who were traveling to other parts of Belize afterwards and I found out that one other member was headed to San Ignacio as well. Once I left San Pedro in a mad flurry, it felt so weird being the solo traveler again. After spending a week w/ a group of wonderful people, it was difficult to get into the solo traveler mode. So when I saw Josef from the dive group as I was wandering through downtown San Ignacio, I was so happy to see a familiar face! My hotel was in the next village over, 10 minutes away, VERY ISOLATED and dinner at the lodge was $30 USD (turkey, mashed potatoes, canned cranberry jelly). We had a good dinner, albeit it took FOREVER, but it was $9 USD and it was good, authentic Belizean food. I found out that Josef was also leaving to the airport at the same time the next day so instead of having to spend $120 for a taxi or ride a very uncomfortable bus w/ lots of luggage, Josef was gracious enough to let me carpool w/ him the next day and split the fee for a private 4-wheel drive back to the airport. Much cheaper, more comfortable, and w/ a new friend.

I will add pictures once I learn how to navigate this site better.

Thanks to everyone for making this such a fun, memorable dive trip!

Edited by ScubaFran, 08 January 2012 - 06:22 PM.

[WreckWench]

THANKS TO FRAN FOR THE GREAT PEOPLE SHOTS!!!


And to our NEWEST Member....CHUCKIE!!!

[WreckWench]

Fran! It was my pleasure helping and you did GREAT! In fact EVERYONE did so well that I really was more on vacation then working!

Here is one of the dives you are missing and the add'l dive on the Blue Hole Day as we did 2 site in one.

12/27
1. Mermaid's Lair
2. San Pedro Canyon
3. Hol Chan cut
4. Hol Chan Marine Reserve - Night Dive

12/28
5. Tacklebox
6. Esmeralda
7. Tuffy Canyon

12/29
8. Blue Hole
9. Eagle Ray Canyon & Aquarium

Others as above...