Thanksgiving Memories of Travels, Adventures, Scuba Diving and Divers
Eric Keibler Nov 24, 2010
Toasting the Day with Uisce Beatha
There are a lot of things that have happened this year but the things that stick most in my mind are the people and the adventures I have been on during the year. It is hard to forget the stark beauty of Antarctica and the crystal clear waters lapping up against the ship or having a “wee drop of the water of life,” with Steve Brennan at each landfall. There were penguins and seals that came right up to us and birds that flew down and landed in front of us. Who can forget hearing Neal Peake and Giles Adam retell their encounter with a sea lion or the simple joy in Monica Alonso’s face as she showed her photographs of a mother
penguin and her child?
In Indonesia, it was fun watching the group discover that a leaf underwater was not really a leaf or that there was really exciting things to be discovered on the sand and mud flats. It was fun watching the kids discover things underwater on their own and to watch them interact with the local children while playing ball. Perhaps the thing that sticks in my mind most was watching the school children standing in uniforms all along the cliff waiving goodbye to Moniquita Alonso.
During my two trips to Grand Cayman, I watched students blossom and find their way. Yes even technical students can have epiphanies and discover how to dive again with all of their new equipment. We even got to do a night boat dive on a wall, a rare occurrence in Grand Cayman and a dive time that is even rarer for me (Ann is the night diver).
But my memories are not limited to diving in exotic places. It was a real treat to watch David Morris plan and complete his first 100 dives which were all done in his first year of diving. His excitement was contagious and even included a party up at the lake to celebrate the achievement.
There are a lot of memories, experiences and things to be thankful for this year. I am glad that I have been able to open the door to adventure for myself and for other people as well.
Thank you to all of the people who helped create the memories for me! I only wonder what memories I have helped create for them…
