Tuesday I went SCUBA diving on Looe Key. The visibility certainly could have been better, but it was a great experience for my first time diving in the ocean. We saw a couple nurse sharks, lots of barracudas, yellowtails, more parrot fish than I have ever seen in my life combined, and lots of other fish including about 5 lionfish (those bitches).
The school I worked with this week arrived on Wednesday. Friday we went on two boat trips. I wish I had realized how these boat trips were going to turn out for me. The boats we teach on are kind of like pontoon boats except they have three hulls. The deck is white and flat and we actually write directly on the deck with sidewalk chalk when teaching. Friday morning we go out and I'm drawing body plans of sponges on the deck when I run out of room. I had a bucket with a rope on it so i could drop the bucket off the bow of the boat and pull it up with the string. I walk over to the edge drop the bucket in, and then slip on water and completely fall on my ass which somehow propels me even closer to the edge of the boat until my legs are dangling over the edge with my feet in the water and I'm grabbing on to a side railing for dear life. Oh, and did I mention that I was being observed by one of my bosses so they could critique my teaching skills?
Later that afternoon, we go out on another boat trip. I thought that this boat trip had to go better than the morning one. I was wrong. We stopped at a shallow shoal to snorkel and collect algae. I got in so I could snorkel with them and show them the types of things we were looking for and identify critters (we saw some horse conchs and tulip snails and a whole mess of sea urchins). I get on all my gear and I get in off the front of the bow and BAM! My right knee hits the bottom. Only it doesn't actually hit the bottom, it slams into a variegated sea urchin (these are not poisonous).
My knee is still all cut up and seems to be looking worse than it did that day. Obviously, I think, this day could not get worse. WRONG! About 10 minutes later, I pick up a sea urchin and accidentally grab onto the bearded fire worm that was hiding under it.
Yes, these are poisonous. However, I didn't feel anything so I continue swimming around relieved that I must not have grabbed like I thought. Then, we all get back on the boat and my finger starts to sting. Then it starts to feel like it's on fire. When we got back I sprayed some vinegar on it, and it only stung for a couple hours after that. All in all it was a pretty horrible day for my body.
My week did end on a positive note thanks to the Beatles. Saturday night a bunch of us went out to Boondocks to watch a cover band of the the Beatles. They were pretty much awesome and I had a lot of fun. In case any of you don't know, I am obsessed with the Beatles. I love them. And now today is starting my week vacation. Tanya and I are heading to Georgia to visit Tiffany and her new baby Lillian later tonight. I'm so excited!!
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