I am not officially an Advanced Naui Diver! Two days ago we were heading out for a night dive when the captain Joe screamed at everyone to throw on their snorkel gear. Everyone sat on the floor in two lines until we were in the right spot. When we got the go we all slipped in only to find a 40 foot long whale shark at our feet. We had a good ten minutes of swimming with this monster before he got tired of us and swam deeper. What an experience that was and we weren't even planning on it considering they don't usually show up until March. When we made it to the night dive the highlight was an octopus that was one of the most curious Daniel our instructor had ever seen. We put our flashlights close to the octopus and he touched them and then backed off. He came over again and began crawling up our hands as well before going on his way.
The next day we set out at noon and dove 100 feet down to a wreck. Just to top that dive Lara, one of the instructors, had to swim completely naked for the dive because it was her 100th dive with Alton's. After that dive we were heading to the next sight when we saw a boil of tuna stirring up with birds flying towards. These are all signs of another whale shark because the birds, fish and whale shark all feed on the same thing. I was at the front of the line this time ready to go and I dropped right beside it to get a spectacular view of it's face. Everyone just waded there in awe but this being my second time I knew you can't ever stay still because these guys are huge and a slight flick of the tail sends them off. I ended up swimming after and beside the guy for a couple minutes. This one was much smaller, perhaps 5 or 6 meters. We all hopped back in the boat and saw yet another boil off in the distance. Again we formed our lines sitting on the boat and this time I dropped right into the middle of at least a dozen dolphins. The curious guys played around with me for a couple minutes before heading off. I turned to see where everyone else was and they were all back watching but I found myself right in the middle of them. As they left we chased after for a short while and played a little bit more. When we got back in the boat and headed off again the dolphins followed the boat and put on a show playing in front of it and leaping from side to side. Ready to finally actually head to the dive site we saw yet another big boil. As we came closer we saw there were two whale sharks, both small ones. Myself being the only one who got a good view of the first one meant everyone else still wanted badly not just to see the back fin. We came closer when suddenly the dolphins who were travelling with us scared the whale sharks off. It's not often in one's life do you have to say, "Alright dolphins, piss off already!"
Now I'm officially done and I think today's agenda is myself and three other guys getting 2 24's and renting a golf cart. Tomorrow my dad will be Utila and Wednesday is the biggest party night in Utila of the week. I'm sure this island's intro for him won't disappoint. Adios!
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
Friday, December 19, 2008
Finally Pictures
Just Copy & Paste the links.
Costa Rica
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=72402&l=08bc8&id=1650960019
Nicaragua
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5216&l=add40&id=1650960019
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5217&l=62310&id=1650960019
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5218&l=4112a&id=1650960019
Costa Rica
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=72402&l=08bc8&id=1650960019
Nicaragua
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5216&l=add40&id=1650960019
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5217&l=62310&id=1650960019
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=5218&l=4112a&id=1650960019
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Bottle Service is Tradition
Our trip to Crater Lake for the night turned out to be the best night yet. We raged at that tranquil little spot like nobody's business. It started off all nice and quiet. I went kayaking around, we went swimming out to the floating dock. Everybody had a nap. As soon as dinner time came the 4 of us met up with 2 other girls and we went out to dinner. We had a bit of a tradition going and every night I spent with these guys we had bottle service. This meant when you bought a whole bottle of Flor de Cana (for $8) you got the chasers, ice, limes, glasses all for free. That was the start of the night. At Crater's Edge there was a corkage fee which we weren't willing to pay and had smuggled in 5 bottles of Flor de Cana of our own from Granada. Instantly shots were flyin around and our bottles began to disappear. Words cannot thoroughly tell what went on that night because most of the night was a meer blur but pictures the next day revealed our fun. Some parts are untellable but multiple skinny dipping went on and we raided Crater's Edge snack supply. Everyone was up (somehow) at 5am the next day and we found another bottle under the bed. By 5:05am we were swimming and the empty bottle was in the recyclying. Quotes like "Tranquillo Bro", "You Guys Wanna Go Swimming", and "The Moon Never Fucks Around," I'm sure will be remembered between us whenever we should think back to such a night.
The next day we parted ways with Jeannie and boys and I headed up to Leon. We found the 2 party hostels which were right across the street from eachother and booked in. The city had a slightly grungy feel to it and noone was really feeling the vibe for more than one night. We still took full advantage of that night. We ordered some Mojitos and invited over some girls which later turned into us riding in the back of the Hostel owners pickup truck to the big club; Oxygen. We rolled in and yet again, as part of tradition, bottle service. We raged that night as well and had later perhaps the best 3am hamburgers of our lives in the parque central.
We woke up early and did a minor tour of the city and saw the biggest churst in Central America. Spray painted beside it on the wall was (translated) Bush Genocide - An Enemy To All of Humanity! That made me proud to be a Canadian, proud to be just a fly on the wall.
Later that day we took a bus out to the beach for the night. This little town had only one hostel and basically nooone on this gorgeous beach. We bodysurfed all day and had hilarious chats with some of the local children. That night we went with 2 girls to a bar which was having a movie night and of course, bottle service. After watching Hannibal Rising and Hancock we got a bottle for the road and went out to the beach. We walked up to some locals having a fire. In no time at all the laughs were pouring around and I ran back to the hostel, took the grill from the BBQ, and some hotsauce, and ran back. Of course everyone was starving and after watching a local for a little bit we were crab hunting under the moonlight. No crabs in sight only holes it took quite some effort but we had about 30 crabs ready to cook up. A little hotsauce and we would eat every part of the crab. The pinchers, everything! Yet another superb late night snack and another great night with Zev and Chris.
That turned out to be our last night together after a week of travelling, a week of partying, and a week we're sure not to forget any time soon. We headed to Managua which was an awful city. I now know of Hell because I've seen Managua! I spent the night near the Tica bus station in a sketchy neighborhood because my bus left for Northern Honduras at 5am. On the bus I met a really cute Norweigan who I'm meeting up with later in Utila.
San Pedro de Sula wasn't too bad of a city. Apparently it's the aids capital of Central America so I put the chicas on hold for a night lol. I split a cab and went out that night with a couple from B.C. British Columbia honestly is the bulk of the backpacking world. I find I basically represent Ontario.
For now I'm in Utila which is in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Utila is the cheapest of the islands and smaller than its neighboring Roatan which was been infected by heavily by America. The island is literally all about diving. You don't come here unless you want to dive. Almost every place on the island will not give you a room unless you pay for diving. Because of the cheap diving however there is a major backpacking population here, mainly Europeans. I've been hanging around with a 27 year old guy named Jay who's from Berlin. I booked into a 3 day Advanced Scuba Course which starts tomorrow because I've already got my open water. For $270 you get your course, 5 dives plus 2 fun dives (1 dive by itself is $55), free rooms, free snorkelling and kayaking, the gear rental is included aswell. My dives include a navigation dive, a deep dive (40 meters (120 feet)), a wreck dive, a night dive, and a current dive. Only the deep dive and nav. dive are manditory for the Advanced course but the other 3 sound pretty awesome. For now I'm off to a themed party at the Jade Seahorse Titanic bar, Pimps and Hoes! Pimps and Hoes!
The next day we parted ways with Jeannie and boys and I headed up to Leon. We found the 2 party hostels which were right across the street from eachother and booked in. The city had a slightly grungy feel to it and noone was really feeling the vibe for more than one night. We still took full advantage of that night. We ordered some Mojitos and invited over some girls which later turned into us riding in the back of the Hostel owners pickup truck to the big club; Oxygen. We rolled in and yet again, as part of tradition, bottle service. We raged that night as well and had later perhaps the best 3am hamburgers of our lives in the parque central.
We woke up early and did a minor tour of the city and saw the biggest churst in Central America. Spray painted beside it on the wall was (translated) Bush Genocide - An Enemy To All of Humanity! That made me proud to be a Canadian, proud to be just a fly on the wall.
Later that day we took a bus out to the beach for the night. This little town had only one hostel and basically nooone on this gorgeous beach. We bodysurfed all day and had hilarious chats with some of the local children. That night we went with 2 girls to a bar which was having a movie night and of course, bottle service. After watching Hannibal Rising and Hancock we got a bottle for the road and went out to the beach. We walked up to some locals having a fire. In no time at all the laughs were pouring around and I ran back to the hostel, took the grill from the BBQ, and some hotsauce, and ran back. Of course everyone was starving and after watching a local for a little bit we were crab hunting under the moonlight. No crabs in sight only holes it took quite some effort but we had about 30 crabs ready to cook up. A little hotsauce and we would eat every part of the crab. The pinchers, everything! Yet another superb late night snack and another great night with Zev and Chris.
That turned out to be our last night together after a week of travelling, a week of partying, and a week we're sure not to forget any time soon. We headed to Managua which was an awful city. I now know of Hell because I've seen Managua! I spent the night near the Tica bus station in a sketchy neighborhood because my bus left for Northern Honduras at 5am. On the bus I met a really cute Norweigan who I'm meeting up with later in Utila.
San Pedro de Sula wasn't too bad of a city. Apparently it's the aids capital of Central America so I put the chicas on hold for a night lol. I split a cab and went out that night with a couple from B.C. British Columbia honestly is the bulk of the backpacking world. I find I basically represent Ontario.
For now I'm in Utila which is in the Bay Islands of Honduras. Utila is the cheapest of the islands and smaller than its neighboring Roatan which was been infected by heavily by America. The island is literally all about diving. You don't come here unless you want to dive. Almost every place on the island will not give you a room unless you pay for diving. Because of the cheap diving however there is a major backpacking population here, mainly Europeans. I've been hanging around with a 27 year old guy named Jay who's from Berlin. I booked into a 3 day Advanced Scuba Course which starts tomorrow because I've already got my open water. For $270 you get your course, 5 dives plus 2 fun dives (1 dive by itself is $55), free rooms, free snorkelling and kayaking, the gear rental is included aswell. My dives include a navigation dive, a deep dive (40 meters (120 feet)), a wreck dive, a night dive, and a current dive. Only the deep dive and nav. dive are manditory for the Advanced course but the other 3 sound pretty awesome. For now I'm off to a themed party at the Jade Seahorse Titanic bar, Pimps and Hoes! Pimps and Hoes!
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