Category Setting off

Tuesday, February 18

Feb 18.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 10

Up early to write, and feeling like “Let Them Not Say” is very close to finished.

Off to the “Hammerhead” dive.  A very rocky boat ride out to the dive site—capt said 9-10’ swells, and felt like a roller coast ride for about 45 minutes.  Thankful that I seem to have figured out the pre-boat ride regime (patch behind the ear the night before, anti-nausea pill in the morning, as well as meclizine), so not seasickness, at all.

The site is known as Rain Fish, and it’s clear why.  We descended over a reef absolutely teeming with fish.  Some schooling, but more just seemingly ‘raining’ through the water...

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Monday, February 17

Feb 18.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 9

Joe and Cristin had a big diving day today—morning and afternoon—so Pattie and I had a good day with Jackson.  He greeted me with smiles when he woke up, and was just plain fun all day long. 

Also got lots of headway done in planning time in Kauai, specifically four days of diving.

We hit the hay early, while Joe and Cristin went out for dinner, as the morning will bring time for some writing before we leave at 6:15am for our dive in Lahaina.

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Friday, February 14

Feb 17.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 6

Today’s a dive day, heading to see the “Lanai Cathedrals”.  We’ll do today’s dive with Lahaina Divers (same outfit as Wednesday) with Joe joining us, which will be fun.  Plan is for the dive, then lunch closer to Maui Dreams for our Nitrox class at 3.  Then Pattie and I will watch Jackson while Cristin and Joe enjoy a Valentine’s Day date nite.

Although i’m still clearly not using the correct filter for the GoPro, there is still some good video of the diving in the Cathedrals, some of the schooling fish, and even some friends who joined us on the ride back to shore.

Inside the Cathedrals
Pattie says “Hello” and “wish you were here”
Schooling fish
playing with the boat

After the dive we went in for our Nitrox class, where we learned the steps ne...

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Sunday, February 16

Feb 17.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 8

Nice that we all got to spend the day together today.  Since it was a two-tank shore dive, we all went and just switched off for the second dive.  Joe, Pattie, and I did the first dive; Joe, Cristin, and I did the second.  We dove the Olawalu site, which is really just about 20’ north of where we’re staying in Kihei. 

What made this dive different, and fun in new ways, was that these were dives with underwater scooters.  I didn’t know what to expect, so left my GoPro on shore…so you’ll simply have to believe me when I say we had a load of fun. 

The visibility wasn’t great near shore, but got much better as we moved away from shore, following a sand channel between mounds of coral...

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Thursday, February 13

Feb 14.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 5

Another fabulous day with Jackson, while Cristin and Joe went diving.  These days are really pure joy, focusing on the little things that Jackson does, little exhibits of his development, his personality, his humor.  He’s now sitting for long stretches (45-60’) and playing with anything within his reach.

warming up after a little swimming at the pool
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Wednesday, February 12

Feb 14.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 4

Molokini Crater, inside and backwall side

An early morning for us, as we needed to be in Lahaina by 6:45 to check in for our dive.  The drive was a bit quicker than we thought, and the shop opens promptly at 6:45, so we were about 10 minutes earlier than necessary.  (we’ll know better for Friday and Sunday dives with this company.)

The first impressions are important ones with these dive shops/charters, as you spend a day with the crew and the other divers, and you depend on them for safety.  First impressions were very good, indeed; fellow divers quiet, easy, mellow, yet upbeat.  Crew very professional, and not at all overly rah-rah.

The ride out to the site was really quite beautiful...

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Tuesday, February 11

Feb 14.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 3

A fun day of being with one of the world’s happiest babies.  Joe and Cristin dove today, so Pattie and I enjoyed a day or playing with Jackson.

not sure if i already posted this, but a few photos taken at dinner/Luau on Sunday evening…

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Monday, February 10

Feb 11.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 2

Up early to get out for an early dive.  But the weather wasn’t cooperating; the captain and dive crew could not find a safe place to dive.  8’ swells, zero visibility under water…so back to the port by 9am.  Took the opportunity to drive a bit further, into Lahaina, to grab some breakfast.  Then went to a local dive shop to get some extra layers, as we’d been cold on the boat.

Joe, Cristin, and Jackson joined us in Lahaina for a lunch, then Pattie and I headed back to our room.  I slept for a few hours…just really tired day (early a.m., and the previous night’s luau went later than we’d hoped, so needed the catch-up rest. Nothing particularly exciting to report, other than our looking forward to diving Wednesday, and we’re just loving the time with Jackson...

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Sunday, February 9

Feb 11.2020 / / / Setting off.

Maui, day 1

Joe and Cristin went diving at 6am, we sat Jackson until 1 or so.  Jackson’s a really easy little guy, full of smiles.  The only crankiness emerges when he’s hungry or when he’s feeling the effects of teething.  Two teeth coming in now, one top, one bottom.  We really enjoyed him a lot today.

When Joe/Cristin returned we went to one of the dive shops we’re using here, and we picked up jackets which are worn under wet suits, providing extra warmth, but no buoyancy.  We had to then drive up to a shop in Lahaina that had Pattie’s size.  We’ll be heading to Lahaina for many of our dives, so this was a good trial run to see how long the drip is (30+’).

We’d arranged to attend a luau this evening, and it was quite a spectacle...

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