More Good about the people of St. Martin
Swabbing the hull to prevent growth of algae which lowers the speed in the water is one facet of routine maintainence. It has to be done underwater. You can do it while snorkelling, but having scuba gear makes it an easy task.
Joy sent me to scuba school so I could help in this task. Over ten years ago, I took the schooling for my PADI scuba certification, but never completed.
I did have a little residual fear of the whole process, but after my first open water dive which was in a safe harbor, in a zone that was populated with sunken relics deliberately placed here for tourist's amazement, I was stoked.
There were various sunken monohull sailboats, pirate ship cannons, an old marine research vessel that looked like something out of Jules Verne, complete with portholes and luckily big enough to swim through with tanks. There were airplane propellers, but no fuselage or other airplane parts. There was a large industrial iron assemby that looked like it would be part of a steel mill with holes and round holes that fish darted in and out of. It was like an underwater disneyland made just for us.
My instructor was a very short Peruvian man who demonstrated in short measure just how much a man can be at ease in the water. He was incredibly strong, and proved that he could pick me up with tanks if he wished. I learned later that he was in fact a navy seal in the Peruvian army and had started diving commercially after his retirement.
I got all my dives done in three days, and then two more days for school and testing and it was done. I am now Open Water Certified.
I have to say that Blue Bubbles, the dive shop that has a location here at our resort and one in Phillipsburg, treated me fairly, generously, and with economy.
Blue Bubbles runs diving trips, does certification, offers SNUBA and snorkeling tours. You can rent Jet Skis and purchase what ever you need right there.
The owner, Bobby, is a really warm person that will be straight with you, and will steer you to an alternative spot if he does not have what you want.
Owner Bobby of Blue Bubbles
552-7749 or 554-2502
