A Three Hour Tour that Ended Well

Despite my nervousness about diving into the deep, it was a ton of fun and as long as I had the regulator in my mouth, I was breathing normally! Pictured right are Lauren and Phil descending along the line as we began our dive. Let me tell you, I wish the words existed to help you picture the wonders down there. We saw a spotted eagle ray, which is apparently very rare to see, sea urchins, plenty of fish, and a shipwreck. We dove at the wreck sight of the H.M.S. Rhone, which sank in 1867 during a Category 5 hurricane. I touched a silver spoon from the wreck, as well as the "lucky porthole." We also handled a spiky thing, that I'm told is a South English egg? It was pretty cool because it suctioned to our hands as we individually touched it and wouldn't fall off when we turned our hands upside down.

Above the water, we had a great time talking with the other divers that joined us. How is this for cool: One guy had grown up half an hour from where I live! Talk about a small world. Everyone was very friendly and accomodating of us novices.

After diving twice at different parts of the wreck, we visited a church where we helped organize and box clothes for the BVI Haitian Disaster Relief effort. It was amazing how many bags of clothes were crammed into the shed. Quite humbling, if you think about it. I mean, here it seems people don'nt have as much as us, but they give what they can.

Tonight, after dinner, we went salsa dancing at a local hotel, which was very fun. I don't get the opportunity to dance very often, so I very much enjoyed the chance to get my merengue on. We learned the aforementioned merengue and a few salsa steps. Who knew after diving we would have so much energy? But as soon as we got into the van to leave, the need for sleep hit each of us.

Tomorrow is supposed to be a low-key day, with a later start at 7:50. So, it's off to bed now!