Day 20 5 Jul 2009
Author: CaitlinLocation: West End, Tortola
Today was a hard day, we woke up early and had our last dive for the time here in the BVI's. Once back on the boat we got ready for the final cleanup. It was really hard to try to get everything done with the weather being bad: huge waves and people flying everywhere made it a bit harder, but it was all accomplished before arriving in port. Once in West End the rain came and has yet to stop. Going home will feel good, but I know we will all miss all the shipmates and staff.
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Day 19 5 Jul 2009
Author: Lucia Z.Location: The Bight, Norman Island
Awoken by what appeared to be a calm morning with pancakes, the shipmates of Alexandra took it slow, enjoying the tranquil morning sea. At some point during our meal, the Rescue scenario started: two unconscious divers appeared (one at the surface, and one under water). The Rescue students sighed, as they prepared for their third scenario. The others (Dolphins and Neptunes) sat on deck watching as if an early-morning show. Following this fiasco, the whole boat dove the Fearless wreck (80ft deep fishing boat); it was amazing. I'd also have to say it was funny for example when my dive buddy pretended to go to the bathroom on the submerged toilet. As soon as we surfaced, we were introduced to another scenario involved two non-breathing, unconscious divers. We performed oxygen enhanced CPR and successfully passed our last Rescue scenario. So, by 10:45am, we were all officially certified oxygen donors, and trained in CPR and First Aid. Now we are doing to Road Town; the capital of Tortola. I can't wait for the ice cream our skipper has been raving about!
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Day 18 4 Jul 2009
Author: Geoffrey M.Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
We did two 80 feet dives, doing some wreck penetration as part of our specialty. It was awesome. We slept at Great Harbor and the wind was nuts. Today marks the 18th day in a row that I have slept outside. For future shipmates: outside sleeping is the way to go.
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Day 17 3 Jul 2009
Author: Caitlin H.Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
Happy birthday Hailey! Today was a good day. We woke up, had breakfast and started a new day in paradise. We went to West End to eat, shop and use regular toilets. We then sailed for a long time to a dive site called "Painted Walls," it was so cool. Later on we came back to Great Harbour, Peter Island. We all showered and ate Mexican food, which was so good. While doing the dishes rescue was presented with a scenario which we all accomplished well.
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Day 16 2 Jul 2009
Author: CowieLocation: Sidney's, Jost van Dyke
Today was sooo awesome, although I took part in a clinic run. It was still a blast! I also learned that the dinghy rides make me giddy. The Dolphins had a sweet dive today, and saw an octopus. We are all looking forward to Sidney's Peace and Love BBQ tonight.
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Day 15 1 Jul 2009
Author: HaileyLocation: Sandy Spit, Green Cay
Today we woke up at 5:45am for a quick breakfast of cereal before the days activities. We needed to wake up so early because the entire ActionQuest fleet was hiking to the highest point in the BVI's, but before we all got to the national park at the top we had to hike across the island. We all didn't start the hike until 7:45am. The first hill seemed to be at a 60 degree angle, but the view at the top kept us going. Alex, Tina, Christian, Cowie, Maren and Caitlin lead our boat to the top. Alex and Tina were actually the first girls from dive side to make it to the top. The group did really well and almost 100% of us made it to the top, which for the extreme level of physical and mental strength this hike required, is very impressive. We all enjoyed a nice afternoon in Cane Garden Bay. Once back on the boat we sailed to Sandy Spit, where we all had a sand castle contest. The Alexandra made a big Chinese character meaning water: all the staff members were really impressed. We're sitting down at a dinner of beans and rice, and franks. We will all sleep well tonight with dreams of the beautiful views of the islands we saw today.
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Day 14 30 Jun 2009
Author: Randi K.Location: Cane Garden Bay, Tortola
After a 7am breakfast of oatmeal, and a hurried clean-up, we sailed to Shark Point for our first dive of the day. The Dolphins and Neptunes had their second Underwater Naturalist dive, while the Rescue shipmates had another search and recovery dive. We had tuna salad and hotdogs for lunch before returning to the water. After lunch, the Neptunes had a lecture, Rescue went diving again, and the Dolphins went turtle tagging with the Lifeworks boat (and caught a hawksbill sea turtle!). We then piled back onto the boat for a sail to Cane Garden Bay.
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Day 13 29 Jun 2009
Author: Gregory H.Location: Sommer's Beach, Tortola
Today we had our beach party! The day started out with scrambled eggs. Our boat then split up: the Dolphins stayed, and everyone else went to the other boat (Natasha). Before a lunch of tortilla soup (which was awesome!), Rescue had its first scenario, out of the 4. Chris and Sam, some of the instructors, were involved: Chris had "stabbed" Sam in the leg and Sam had "stabbed" him back. Our response to the scenario was quite good. We then had the beach barbeque and everybody got to play the 3 hour game of life. Returning to the boat at 10:30 pm we went to bed fairly early.
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Day 12 28 Jun 2009
Author: Maren T.Location: Muskmelon Bay, Guana Island
We set out early this morning to dive the Chickuzen. Everybody dove and collectively saw a turtle, blacktip shark, cobia, multiple barracuda, and hundreds of other smaller fish. The rest of the day was spent sailing to Muskmelon Bay where the Dolphins and Neptunes snorkeled the setting for a night dive. During the snorkel we saw a squid, a turtle, a nurse shark, and thousands of swarming minnows. After dinner, the Dolphins and Neptunes went on a night dive while Rescue learned about saving people! We ended the night with a delicious batch of brownies, and Tina and Alex even fought over the crumbs. Overall, it was another gorgeous day in the BVI which everyone loved!
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Day 10 27 Jun 2009
Author: Tina C.Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
We woke up at 7:15 to the smell of delicious pancakes. After a slow cleanup the three groups parted for the morning. The Rescue divers had a training session, the Neptunes dove a wreck at 80 feet, and the Dolphins went on a snorkel. Being part of the Dolphins I jumped in and started searching for interesting marine life. The things we found were placed in a mesh bag Kris was swimming around with. Once the bag was full we brought it up onboard and proceeded to identify the different things. Two of the coolest things we found were a common Arbacia urchin and a three rowed sea cucumber. After we returned all the marine life back to the ocean we sat down for a yummy lunch of grilled cheese cooked by Hailey and Christian. After lunch the groups parted yet again. Rescue had a lecture and then learned how to get unconscious divers to the surface. Neptunes went on another dive with Blair.
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Day 11 27 Jun 2009
Author: UnknownLocation: Marina Cay
This morning we woke up at 7:15 to a simple breakfast of cereal. We quickly got underway to sail to our first port of the day, Hodge's Creek. Most of us had an early lunch at the local restaurant and called home. We needed to be back on the boat at eleven and set sail to our dive spot of the day Alice in Wonderland. The waves at the dive spot were unbelievable but we were still able to get all our dive stuff on and have a great dive. We broke into two groups. Cowie, Christian, Caitlin, Jeff, Tina, and I all went with Chris. Hailey, Jamie, Randi, Maren, and Greg went with Blair. Once we were done with the dive we sailed to Marina Cay and most of us enjoyed a nice nap. At Marina Cay we went to a local touristy shop and got ice cream and chocolate bars for the staff. Jamie and Cowie had to stay behind and prepare us dinner. It was scrumptious tortellini with tomato sauce. We're off to a Lifeworks talk tonight.
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Day 9 25 Jun 2009
Author: Jamie S.Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
Today we dove the Rhone. It was an interesting dive a we saw many different sea critters. Then we went over to Salt Island. There we tasted the salt and hiked. The view of the salt in the water was awesome. Then we had white bean soup for lunch. Afterwards we came back to Great Harbor and Deliverance came by with ice cream. Then we snorkeled and saw a turtle and some really neat fish. Then I rode in the dinghy while Geoff and Caitlin wakeboarded. The dinghy broke and Blair had to come get us. Then we ate dinner and went on an awesome night dive. Then we showered then went to bed.
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Day 8 24 Jun 2009
Author: Christian M.Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
We woke up today around 7:30 and I had the job of skipper. For me it was pretty fun and easy. We sailed for three hours to Great Harbor and dove there for our first deep dive. It was so much fun! We cracked an egg underwater at 90 feet and it was cool to see what happened. After the dive we chillaxed and then ate dinner. We had a Mexican fiesta! Today was just an overall amazing day.
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Day 7 23 Jun 2009
Author: Lucia Z.Location: Vixen Point, Gorda Sound
Today was a fairly relaxing day. We went on a rescue dive, learning how to utilize an air lift back underwater. We then went to dock where shipmates were spotted maxing out their spending money for Ben and Jerry's ice cream, the remains later visible in brown spots throughout the deck. We then had a three hour lecture on CPR and first aid, and I got licensed... success! Now we're pre-dancing for the dance, we're so excited to dance all night!!
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Day 6 22 Jun 2009
Author: Geoffrey M.Location: Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda
We woke up late at 7:15, it's amazing what waking up late becomes. We went on a dive and saw some barracudas. On the second dive I could not equalize so I sat out and watched a little and helped set up lunch. Then we had a lecture. Following the lecture we went wakeboarding. Then we had dinner. Around 8 we had a talk about peer pressure.
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Day 5 21 Jun 2009
Author: Caitlin H.Location: Mountain Point, Virgin Gorda
Today was amazing, starting off with an early morning swim at the Baths- huge boulders with caves and really cool trails to follow. We jumped off of rocks and swam through openings. After the Baths we went into Spanistown where we ordered the amazing bacon cheeseburger, sooo good. Calling home to say hey and walking around using normal toilets was a blast. I love this ship sooo much and all my shipmates, one big family from all over the world :-)
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Day 3 19 Jun 2009
Author: Hailey D.Location: Savanna Bay, Virgin Gorda
Today was another amazing day in the BVI. We woke up in White Bay, the sailed to Blue Chromis to dive the kissing wreck. While diving we saw a bunch of amazing sea life like sting rays, huge puffer fish, and much more. The water was clear and warm. Afer an amazing dive we sailed to Savanna Bay and greeted our new shipmate, Christian! We are very happy to have him join us in paradise!
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Day 2 18 Jun 2009
Author: Randi K.Location: White Bay, Peter Island
We finally left the dock around 11am. We managed to set the sails for the first time. For lunch we made sandwiches while underway. After laying anchor we had a dive that basically refreshed what we had all learned while getting certified. Dinner comprised of messy sloppy joes and corn. After a major cleanup effort we all boarded the Natasha for a briefing about our classes. Then it was back to the boat for some much needed rest.
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Day 1 17 Jun 2009
Author: Gregory H.Location: West End, Tortola
Today almost everyone arrived. For most of us the day started out pretty hectic; I woke up at 4 to catch my plane. After we arrived at the airport in Tortola we were driven here, to Soper's Hole. From then on out we've been pretty relaxed; we unpacked, took a swim test, and hung out. As more and more people arrived we introduced ourselves to each other and as of now, we know each other pretty well. After a pasta dinner we got to go hang out again. So the progression of the day went from hectic to calm and relaxed.
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Day 4 20 Jun 2007
Author: Jack C.Location: Savanna Bay, Virgin Gorda
It's raining but it's all good. Today was awesome!!!! Sweet dive, and we are working out everybody on the boat. Sweet time. While our fellow dive boat, Natasha, ran out of bread and had to borrow two loaves of ours due to their late night PB+J habits, Jeff, Lucia, Greg, Cowie, and Caitlin were seen "pumping iron" near the bow. Today we went to the beach to practice navigation, finalizing our newly appreciated knowledge underwater, marking our first training dive. More happened, but already I can't wait to see the new things that will make my day better tomorrow.
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