Goodnight, Johnboy. Goodnight Mary Ellen.
UNDERWATER GARDENS, NO. 7
So glad that you were able to dive...sounds interesting!!!! Since Christi and I don't dive we're always "all ears" to anything you have to share.....!!!!!!! It's informative and educational to us!!!!!!
Night all!!!!!!!!
This message was edited Nov 24, 2007 6:31 PM
Christi, I always highlight the whole post and right-click COPY before I change page, even if it's just to check out a picture. That way, if the post is wiped out, you can paste it and not have to rewrite it again. I learned this the hard way.
Yes, I am french canadian. My wife is an american. We have been maried 30 years. My current health issues stem from 2 open wounds on my lower right leg that won't heal thanks to runaway diabetes: very worrisome.
I tried to find the post where I explain how I chose my nickname. I couldn't find it. Not wishing to bore people to tears on this thread with it, I would have posted a link to it so people who wish to read it could just click on the link. Sorry about that. If you remember where it is and/or can find it, you could post the link to the post. It's not a bad story, as little stories go.
John, I loved that shark. It reminded me of the day I went snorkeling at DePalm island in Aruba. We swam out with the guide and were told we'd see sharks. We did. We also saw the biggest morray eel I ever saw. What a day that was. There we were, floating at the surface, making believe we were sargasso grass, trying very hard not to attract attention to ourselves once we spotted the sharks.
There were 4 black-tipped reef sharks (I think) swimming down there about 20 feet below us. They knew full well we were there, as you well know. Then, a funny feeling hit me. I considered the situation where someone goes to the supermarket to buy one of those ready-cooked rotisserie chickens. Which one do you think they take? The scrawny one or the plumpest one? They're all priced at $6.49 so naturally, people inspect them and choose the plumpest one. That morning, floating at the surface of the sea, I was that plumpest chicken to those sharks. Everyone else in our excursion was safe. If they attacked, they'd head straight for me. Strangely enough, I was not scared. I just thought it was funny.
In other news, I will be stopping in Georgetown, Grand Cayman on January 16th along with a lifelong friend of mine from the Great White North. We just reserved this yesterday. Could we meet and go for iced tea (or whatever) and maybe a cigar together?
We'll be on the Norwegian Jewel: big barge but very nice ship. We did a 17-day transatlantic crossing her from Miami to Barcelona. It's only a 5-day cruise and my wife doesn't do 5-day cruises. Madame has standards: 7 days minimum and no maximum. It's all right, she's coming with me in February for 10 days.
Take care, all.
Sylvain.
Hello, Sylvain. Sorry about your predicament. I have a bad case of envy these days for all of you adventurers. I am so looking forward to visiting Jenny in February. My first adventure but hopefully not the last. Also beginning to realize that I have too much expectation. Think I should have the presidential suite on any cruise. Can't afford such. You call this a barge. Surely that doesn't fit my definition of barge. Where do you find such?
My leg is getting proper attention. My insurance covers the services of a nurse who comes here 3 times a week to look after my wounds. It's bothersome and worrysome but not desperate.
My wife and I prefer smaller ships, carrying less than 2,000 passengers. The term came after we sailed on Carnival Cruise Line's Liberty. We both hated that ship so much that we referred to it as the Klingon Barge. Gail confessed that had the Liberty docked in Key West, she would have gotten off the ship and driven home. Gail doesn't drive. She would have needed to hire a driver. Never understimate Gail. Never again on Carnival, thank you very much. The Norwegian Jewel is a nice ship and one never feels boxed in or crowded.
Sylvain.
So sorry to hear of your leg woes, Lourspolaire, hope they get the wounds under control quickly...and the rest of your problems smooth themselves out.
Love the pic of the clam, John, too cool!
I have cheated and taken some pictures of postcards - I don't think I have violated any copyrights as they are commonly sold, I hope not anyway! My photographic ability is a joke, so in order to try and contribute to this thread I am taking the easy way out.
Kilikina, the first one is for you, a common sight in February...
We see many turtle's like this when we are snorkeling. Don't you just love his expression!
Hasn't he got a lovely smile?
Wow Slyvain, that is terrible! I hope that you find a solution and the nurses are taking good care. I see that the stop in GT will be on a Wednesday. We most certainly will link up when you arrive! I can pick you guys up at the specified spot I will dmail you. Not sure if the new Havana Club will be open by then but it from what I've seen, it is a real nice lounge. As time grows closer, we can sort out the details....It will be exciting to meet you...a mini version of DG convention! Is there any other shore excursion you would like to do? Sting Ray City, Turtle Farm, etc.? Just let me know as I have connections here and can help...might keep you out of the herd anyway...just let me know...
You being the plumpest chicken...HA! the only thing you have to do is not be the slowest swimmer! We have a hammerhead that hangs around a very popular spot on occasion and there has NEVER been an incident. Sharks prefer other sources of food other than plump chickens! You might be concerned if you were shaped like a sting ray.
This has been posted before but, this Eagle Ray had a near miss by a guy in a gray suit (shark)
Not supposed to have envy on a Sunday morning but I do and really bad. I want to go. bwaaaaa. Just being silly. The little DG RU's are wonderful. That's why I have jumped on the Convention. Jennie, we looked at the whale site last night and they even have a video. I'm going to be so hyped by February I may have to be carried on the plane. Sylvain, also took a look at the *barge*. Now that is my kind of ship. Wow! John, may have to save my pennies so we can come to Cay-Mon. We can stay in a tent for all I care. We can get hotdogs to grill. Anything. It is so cold and dreary, rainy here today.
Glad all of you are having a good time in Paradise.
OK, I admit it, I've been lurking! John that "pacman" you posted is fascinating. Beautiful creature and with Sylvain's comments about their movement, I can see it in my mind.
lurking not allowed... you must participate because we miss you.
Mornin gang....3 dives over the weekend, 4 Turtles, spotted drums, Spotted eagle ray on the shalllow dive yesterday...what a treat!!! camera in the water next weekend...if I can wait that long....
Christi, I already told you we have room at the inn for you anytime you wish to visit...just say the word....cayman airways has a direct flight from Houston...might be a nice tune up for the Hawaii trip...or a nice follow up when you start to suffer island withdrawal....
j
Oh, I must concur with John. Once you return from Hawai'i, you definitely WILL suffer from island withdrawal. May I suggest you plan accordingly?
Sylvain.
Good Monday Morning.
John, so glad you were finally able to dive again. Know that must have given you a big boost. Talked to Jenny on the phone last evening and her voice is as expected...lovely and lilting like a song. She is soo sweet. I am blessed among women. Sun is out and things look better today. Hope this is the beginning of an awesome week for all of you.
Christi
Must have been an awsome dive John, the spotted eagles are so cool....your dive must have lifted your spirit enormously, can't wait until you can get the camera back in action.
Hey Christi, looks like you are about to become a well seasoned traveler - take John up on his offer to visit, from his photos is must be gorgeous there.
Aloha all!
A bit far behind to be called *seasoned*, but then, I am not dead yet, still have a third of my life left if you are to believe the actuarist (sp).
Aloha all tropikids!!!! Just dropping by quickly to say Howdy...John - SOOOO good to see you back!!
I'm glad to see everyone having fun and chatting, sharing pics and all. Miss you parrottheads a bunch. Having a wonderful vacation, enjoying friends and family...My grandson just beat me 4 out of 4 mancala games....ugh! Home in a little over a week and back to normal....
Hugs all around!!!
S
Hey gang...hope this finds you well....if you are reading this then you got through Monday...for some, it's the eve on Wednesday by now....Shari, glad to see you are enjoying time off island....
Still posting some older images as have not got in the water with the housed beast in a while....this shot of this small school of horse-eyed jacks was shot with a Nikkor 10.5 fisheye lens...extreme wide ....the widest lens I have for underwater....shooting neighbors Christmas portraits in about 20 minutes....catch y'all on the flip of this day....
j
Love that last pic John. I have to laugh though because some of them look like they are smiling for you and others look like they are frowning.
Hope the portraits came out great!!
Wish were close enough to have you do our family portraits. Ours are more like...candid camera.
It's not easy to get everyone to sit down and do formal portraits or anything that even remotely looks like that. Would you believe, after 30 years mariage, we have only had one done? Gail and I will get pose for one while we are on our transatlantic cruise. On one of those nights when we are expected to doll ourselves up, we'll stand in line and have one of their photographers do it. They usually do nice work and best yet, if you don't like them, there is absolutely no obligation to buy. You just have them destroyed and try again another night.
Christi, you have D-mail.
Sylvain.
What are y'all lookin at?
I dunno! what are you?
I don't know either, but it sure is cute!
chocolate lined top snail...sorry, meant to add that right after posting but got caught up....
You should have said brown lined top snail instead of chocolate. Sounds less apetizing. lol.
Well chocolate lined top snail, you are really cute!!!!! and bright, too! LOL
Try one more time. This is the third post and I keep loosing it before it posts. I may have a virus. Gonna have to run a program. I love the red snail. I have a very large collection of shells. Have never seen a red one. John, does it stay red out of the water?
Christi
here's another favorite on this thread....long snout seahorse....this image appeared in skin diver magazine a few years back...this copy has been opend about a zillion times so the resolution has suffered .....still cute enough to post though....have a goodnight friends...look for you tomorrow...
j
good question Christi...have never taken one out of the water....illegal to collect or take anything while on scuba in the cayman islands....
we posted at the same time....get some medication on that virus!
'night my fancies!
The beauty you discover under the sea...no wonder you want to go there as often as possible.
hahahah. A computer virus, I think. Keeps screwing up my pc.
Love the school picture! And goodness, the color of that snail - is that Ferrari red? Thanks for posting them.
Hey folks...hope this finds you all well....here is a shot that shows the extreme light fall off from scenic shots...even with 2 strobes...the diver, Katie, is 30 feet away from me....the strobes will only cover so much area...without them, well, you know what that would look like....
Gives me the chills to think about being that deep in the sea...or that far away from each other. Obviously, Kate would not be visible without all that extra equipment. Thanks.
Christi
Nice shot!! Hard to believe she is that far away.
not really that hard...we have great visibility here....we can see each other from a long way away without any lights or anything...visibility is defined as how far you can see in the water column horizontally not vertically....here is a shot from almost 70 feet deep and you can still see the boat on the surface quite clearly...
What kind of formation is in the foreground?
and one more...just a fuzz shallower....a north shallow site called pinnacle reef...shot on film years ago...this is when Fisheye was operating on island...the boats name is shutterspeed....if you look close you can make out the word "FISHEYE" on the side of the boat....
