Puffer fish

I forgot how screwy dive classes are. I was supposed to start my IDC on Wednesday, but after the paperwork meeting on Monday, we found out that we had to do skills demos this morning from 8-10:45.

Not a bad thing, just glad I got here early!

So the class is actually across town from me, and I found another street, so turns out it's not just a single road through the island, but it's pretty damn close.

Passed all 24 skills. Now, these are the skills brand new divers have to master as part of their Open Water cert, so it's not that they are hard, it's that we have to perform them to demonstration quality. Haven't done em in a while. so it was good to play around.

I don't think there are any new lifelong friends in my group, but it's a nice bunch of people, very diverse divers.

At the class, I realized I forgot my wallet, so I biked all the way home. That little side street the IDC is on was packed with people and dirt bikes and golf carts and four wheelers to the point where I walked my bike through it. Once I got home I realized that I actually DID have my wallet with me. Took a half assed shower. So hot. My hair is already destroyed from chlorine and salt water.

Headed back to the dive shop, helped load the boat, and went on a couple of fun dives. I'm currently borrowing a BC while mine is getting repaired, and it's amazing how much better things go when your gear all works! Buddied with a woman who had a really nice camera, so I will have a couple of underwater pics! Yay! I'm a little disappointed in the lack of life on the island, I was expecting more big creatures. Did see the largest brain coral I've ever seen though, including one in the shape of a heart! Super cute. Also saw a ray and a puffer fish (little guy swam right in front of me.

Since I'm all over the place between my apartment, the shop, and the IDC center, I managed to leave my dive skin at the IDC area, so I went diving in just a tank top over my swim top and board shorts. It's really, really hot and humid here and I'm not used to it, so the cool water was wonderful.

I better be in great shape after this. It's too hot to overeat, and I'm pedaling my butt off. Seriously. My ass is not used to biking on dirt and cobbly roads.

Sunscreened, but not enough on the parts that get "sun" in Oregon, so my forearms are burnt.

Ate dinner from another Baliadas place; a little stand called La Casita. Not quite as good, but good, and a third of the price of Mama Rosa's.

It's 5, and I think I'm in for the night. Might take a siesta then study some more dive theory. Envy me.  Probably shower again. Poor hair. It's probably too late for a siesta. I'm not sleeping great here, and realized I brought fewer sleeping pills than I meant to. Oops.

Forgot: Ordered my food in Spanish today. Pats self on back.