SCUBA Must have for the Caribbean Waters

I loved these books and I miss them lots.  Unfortunately, I left mine in Belize but at least they are replaceable and will do so when the time is right! These books were definitely one of the best investments I made for SCUBA, next to my courses of course!

Changes in Life

Its amazing how life can change in an instant.  From being single and independent to planning a wedding to that wedding not happening and to starting a whole new life!

Me and Eric have parted ways as much as we loved each other life was getting difficult being so far apart all the time.  We were planning our wedding day but I got to thinking… Things are not that strong financially with me at the moment and lots of things were going on for Eric in regards to work, living arrangements and others such things that we have to deal with in our lives.  I just did not want to start off a marriage being apart, it wouldn’t be fair to either person involved.

I am very happy to say that we are still friends and that I still have good ties in Belize with him and my Belizean “parents”, as well as my other friends that I have made during my many travels to the country!

I have not been Scuba Diving in so long and I miss it terribly.  Right now diving has been moved to the back burner, but am hoping only temporarily. 

A whole new adventure is to be started in my life.  Never would’ve thought that life could be altered so quickly and goals and aspirations be changed in an instant.  The up coming lessons in life were taught to me in the past year! Will update in my upcoming blog!

Gone and back again

Well good news... I passed my IE exam! Wow, what a stressful day. Never been under so much pressure my whole life... it felt like do or die and litterally I mean it by do or die! haha...
Me and my best guys from School... I'll miss our great times but until we can meet up again where ever that'll be in this world... ;o)

Left for home to Belize a few days after! I finally reached home to be with my boo, Eric. A lot of adjustments that I had to make when i arrived. The heat and humidity wasn't actually one of them, I have a harder time trying to adjusting to cold or dry climats than anything. One major adjustment was getting used to being a "parent", Eric's son is almost 3 years of age and is my step son. Never having children of my own it was a tough adjustment. As time went on, both my step son and I got used to each other and things just started falling into place. Especially now I can say that I love him like as if he was my own son. That was a huge adjustment for me and I know I wasn't ready for the parenthood yet but I know I had to adjust to my new life. Being in a country that I've only been traveling to for over 2 years has been a tough adjustment, especially since I'm used to lifestyle in Canada and for the first 25 years of life that was home.







Ok back to Scuba diving... I reached Tobacco Caye to start my practicum hours. Did a lot of divemastering in the local waters, but was a little discouraged as I wasn't familiar with the waters and only got a verbal orientation. Having to take other divers out for a tour in waters that I have never been diving in myself was very interesting but I guess it was a learning experience. My first open water student came around the end of April, for me he was the perfect first student. Didn't need much instruction, of course with a few exceptions, and absorbed all the information like a sponge!

Eric and I eventually took a vacation from a vacation to Monkey Bay to visit our friend Matt. So in the jungle for a couple of days, hung out at the local river one afternoon and had BBQ'd fish. We took a tour to the Belize Zoo which was about 3miles north of Monkey Bay... not A mile like everyone was saying! haha

During our down time and most nights, we would play card games... usually All 4's or Skip Bo. We were addicted to both games and over played them a lot.

Again another vacation from a vacation... we head to San Pedro for a couple of days where coincidently we ran into some old friends Kerri and Steph... my girls from Canada... funny running into people from home in all places like Belize... After we headed to Caye Caulker and hung out with the Raggamuffin crew! Unfortunately, we got stuck on Caye Caulker because of Tropical Albert, I think... it was some tropical storm that was passing thru. There was no way off of the caye, the water taxi and flights were shut down because of the storm... Eric and I just wanted to go back home to Tobacco Caye.

Back to the Caye... We had a group from Knox University... what a crazy group! Made some good friends thru the group, and had plently of crazy times!

Time for Placencia... Eric and I went there for a month, I had a place there for my practicum but things changed and I went to the caye instead. So Eric and I had a little Cabana to ourselves. Was nice, bedroom, extra bed, kitchen and private bath! Felt more official that we were living together. That was one boring month as there was nothing to do! We were fortunate enuff to get to visit Eric's brother and my brother in law and his friend which was great having company... too bad because there were both there for a month and we reached during their last week and of course we just started our month there! haha oh well, such is life. Our friend Cheryl came to visit for a couple of days during lobsterfest. Chopham and CJ came for a visit for about week, was nice to have CJ there.... he kept us on our feet! Matt and Michelle came for a visit, we saved lobster for them so we were able to convince them to come! haha

Time finally was coming to an end in Belize, I have no work permit and we were running out of money... time to go back to Canada... One thing that is really gonna suck about leaving, I was actually able to understand Belizean Kriol and was able to talk a little bit too... now that i'm going back to Canada I'm afraid I'll have to start from scratch again! haha but it is what it is.

I must say outta my diving in Belize... best diving was at Glover's Reef. Its just full of life and color! My second favorite would be Tobacco Caye and the area... I can't wait to get back to start diving again in Belize!

As for me and Eric, we are still going strong and are going to work at keeping it that way even with me gone. One day we hope for him to visit Canada to meet my family and friends.... but there'll always be trips to Belize! I miss my boo a lot and miss my new home a lot too! I look forward to my return and the many possibilities that will be there for me and Eric!

a week before I leave

Tomorrow is the big day!!! My instructor examination! The IE is a big two day exam that evaluates us on our presentation skills for both in class and in water. We also have to write six exams.

Also, I'm leaving for home in a week now, I never thought this day would come... but the days has flown by so fast that I can't believe the time is here and everything is coming to an end.

We've completed a bunch of Instructor Specialty courses, so this is the beginning of our MSDT (Master Scuba Diver Trainer) rating. Just need to work on getting 25 certifications now (oh and passing my IE haha).

Took some great pics of the underwater realm recently, and during the instructor specialty courses...

wow... almost done and yet so much has happened

As the end nears for my Scuba program in Canada so much has happened...

I've completed a few more specialties (probably every single one that a person can get haha), worked thru to finish my Emergency First Response Instructor rating and finally got my Divemaster certification card! :) Finally into the IDC (Instructor Development Course), the time is just flying by and the course isn't as bad as I thought it was gonna be. The program actually makes sense and really gives you a sense that you'll be ready to start teaching once the course is done! The course is really heavy, as of this Saturday (March 22) we'll be on our 8th day straight, but as tired as I am I know that it will be all worth it!

Another thing that has happened this semester was unfortunate but in the long run may have worked out for the best, unfortunately. My car was written off on Saturday, March 8, 2008. I was actually having a good day, I dropped a couple of my friends off in downtown Vancouver and went for a day of shopping to get a few things for my move at the beginning of April. After leaving one mall and just after posting a for sale sign on my car, a drunk driver almost hit me head on. Fortunately for me I was able to get somewhat outta the way. I thought I had moved over enough so that he would miss me, SMACK, he hit the back end of my vehicle!!! So now I'm dealing with the insurance company while going thru the most crutial part of my program, I'm just grateful that I wasn't seriously injured and that the insurance company is actually working for me! (Yes, that is the back end of my car!!!!)

During my time in Vancouver on the same day as my accident, my sister was in town so I was at least able to see her for a few hours.

Well back to SCUBA... now an AI (Assistant Instructor) and just need to complete the rest of the IDC and need to pass the IE (Instructors Exam). I have lots to look forward to with going back home to Belize to see and be with my fiance, and now that I just found out that I cannot complete my practicum where I was going to originally in Placencia, Belize. At least I'll be able to be with Eric and than I will have to figure something out to finish/complete my practicum hours! I thinking that all this happened for a reason and I'm sure I'll be happy with the way all this will work out (well I'm already happy with the way things are going but just sucks that I need to re-figure things out for my practicum hours).

The diving in Canada has been up and down. Most recently, I went diving with my two good friends Donovan and Mathieu to Rockwater Resort. We did two dives both to around 90 feet and we saw some pretty amazing things. A blood star starting to munch away at an Orange Sea Pen, HUGE anemones and Orange Sea Pens. This is probably one of my favorite dive sites that we have been diving to this year and one site that I will probably miss the most too, even though I know that I will have some pretty amazing diving up ahead when I go to the Caribbean!!!

Well as the year comes to an end, I know for sure that there will be many things that I will miss and at the same time there are many things that I will not miss, as well as I have so much more to look forward too soon!!!

Now a Divemaster!

Well the "struggles" of completing my Divemaster certification has finally passed! Now just to get thru the IDC (Instructor Development Course), which will commence in mid-March.

Cold water diving has definately been an interesting experience and as much as I miss the warm waters of the Caribbean sea I'm happy to be completing my Scuba courses here in Canada.

With only a couple of specialties that needed to be completed this term, we're loaded with work.

Drift diving was great!!! Just went with the flow of the current and didn't need to exert any extra engery to swim thru the dive site, with a few exceptions to that. "Losing" my dive buddy because he saw something that intrigued him, there by me needing to attemp to turn around to go to him. The current was to strong to try to swim to him so I had to swim to stay in one spot while he gazed at the passing marine life. The current was great, just the feel of it pushing you along the way was enough to enjoy a nice long dive! I finally reached my first dive, here in cold water, that exceeded 40 minutes! Eric would be so proud!

Wreck diving specialty... wow! Sitting in class during the lecture part of the course... listening to the stories, the equipment, the strategies, the multi-tasking... so much to take in! Realizing that there is so much that can go wrong and knowing that you need to be fully aware of your surroundings. Come the dive days, just getting to the dive site on day one was challenging enough as it was. It snowed! Accidents everywhere, roads shutting down... the roads were slick and diverting to a different dive site that what was originally planned, we headed to Whytecliff Park. Usually only a five minute drive from the ferry at Horseshoe Bay, it must have taken us at least a half hour. Driving at no more than 15 - 20 kmph, we got to a small hill near the end of the drive, I got struck! Fellow classmates jumped out of the cars and came to help push me up the small, icy hill. The last driver in the line got stuck as well... SCUBA SCHOOL TO THE RESCUE! Again one last roundabout and a few of us got stuck again!

Lost my phone through all the chaos but luckily someone found it at the Horseshoe Bay ferry terminal! Thank you becasue he just saved me at least $300!

Working on tie offs for the first two dives for the wreck specialty, one at Whytecliff Park and the other at Porteau Cove (the original destination for day one and day two). At Porteau Cove, Drew and I did one fun dive and celebrated my 100th dive! Trying to spell out 'happy 100th dive' underwater is challenging and took me a few spell-outs to understand and do a flip in the water to celebrate! ;) The second dive that day was dive number two for the wreck specialty, working again on tie offs and such we also did a simulated silt out... A silt out is something I hope to never have to encounter during my career as a Scuba professional but happy to know what it would be like without actually having to be in that situation. Finally, dive number three and four for the wreck specialty took place at the Chaudiere courtesy of Porpoise Bay Charters, always a great boat dive with Kal. The waters were rough for the Inlet but we headed out anyways. Dive one for the day was just cursing along the wreck. Dive number two was time for the wreck penetration... guided in by our instructor and guided out again after we were able to penetrate the wreck on our own in that one area. So happy I completed the specialty and got past the "fear" of it. Although, I still know a lot can go wrong and there's a lot more to learn, I'm glad I took that initial step by getting my Wreck diver specialty course completed.

Vancouver Aquarium... we got a behind the scenes tour of the building which was great. My first trip out to the Aquarium and it was a great experience. They've got lots of different marine species on display from all over the world. Although, the exhibits were small it was fun to be able to have gotten there.

Celebrated my 25th birthday this year, and what better way to spend it than with great friends and having your little sister come out for a visit! Jody came out to BC for a mini vacation, I was only able to see her for a few days but I'm glad that she was able to come out and visit the coast and see where I was living while in school.

I took her all around Sechelt... not much to see but it was perfect for the time that we had together. I took her to two of our most visited dive spots - Tuwanek and Coopers Green. We also went for a hike to the Skookumchuck Narrows, its about an hour drive from Sechelt and than an hour hike to the rapids and an hour hike back to the car. I took her to meet my scuba crew and showed her how we "party" on the coast! haha Overall, we had a good time and I know she kinda misses the coast...

A lot has happened over the past month... but more to come over the next couple of months! Still looking forward to April when I head down south back to Belize!

Time in Edmonton

Well home for me is Edmonton, Alberta, Canada... my second home being Belize. Lots of fun events have occured since being home. Seeing old friends, having some family over for a visit during the holidays and just pretty much hanging out.


First things first... cut over six inches off of the length of my hair, and man did I need it! haha










Dad put me to work... well I offered to help him install the laminate in the basement! A few "mis-haps" but over-all we did a good job and figured it out as we went... guess working at Home Depot paid off! lol Probably not but... ;)


Catching up with one of my old work groups where I temped for them while they tried to fill the position and once again until I left for school. Catching up with them during a Christmas lunch and a few vodka shots! The group is always a blast to be around and a guaranteed laugh.



Hitting up the latin and reggae bars with one of my best girls, Meli and her cuz Claud. Once again a guaranteed good time!!! This is just how we do... this is why we hot! We know how to look good and rock the scene. No does it better than we. Heinekin, rum, whiskey, wine and fruity coolers for Meli and dance to some great reggae beats. Dutty wine ahn wine up pon me...


Chilling with Bobbi-Jo and Jo before The Frat for latin night and to visit Dani.



Having a great visit with Anthony... chilled out at Hudson's than spent the rest of the night at Denny's to catch up and chat! Dinner at Mikado's for a nice japanese dinner to celebrate a late birthday for dad and an early birthday for me. Drinks another night with Alex and Erin at Brewsters...

Gingur on Thursday for dollar highballs, and hitting up 180 for some good reggae beats.

The Mascara Queen!! haha Jody finally convinced her to get some wicked fake lashes... I think she found a new addiction other than her mascara! ;) So not only did her lashes look hot, her hair got smoking hot that night too... but litterally... she kinda fried a small bit of her hair! lol but her hair otherwise did look great!

More to come as today is NYE! and with still another four days left in e-town...

After back to Sechelt with more diving stories! Wreck and drift specialty, Divemaster to complete and the commencement of my IDC (Instructor Development Course)... its gonna be an exciting semester.