Focus on the Goal

“Jelly fish”

All of the dives were beautiful; we explored dive spots such as, WHITE HOLE, which is called that because of the round patch of white sand that you see first at 35ft of water. But then you swim to the wall where it drops off and down to the sand slope at 100ft and beyond.  It was this dive that the waves were making the boat rock up and down and I lost my motion sickness patch.  Needless to say I jumped into the water really quick so I wouldn’t get sick.  It was on this dive that I went to a depth of 74ft.

MELISSA’S REEF was another dive where there were walls, reefs and some canyons in the shallows.  I spotted a rockfish and a trumpet fish.  It was an amazing place to see all kinds of sea life. I dove to a depth of 50ft.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

“Swimming with the Dolphin”

Before we left the states, the instructor gave us a list of things we could do if we wanted to do something different.  Some choose to go to the Mayan temples, while others went down a river on an inner tube to look at the wild life around them.  But the one thing that I wanted to do more than anything was to swim with the dolphins.

Every time I would see a program were kids got the chance to swim with one, I would set there and wish really hard that is was me instead.  Now as an adult I would be able to have a chance to fulfill one of my dreams.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

I’m Off Again

  It’s so exciting to be heading off onto my next scuba diving experience, Honduras or to be more precise, Roatan, a small island off the coast.

   But to experience Roatan, I wanted to know more of Hondoras as well. It is said Hondoras is a beautiful but dangerous place itself.  Many Archaeologists have shown that Honduras once had a rich, multi-ethnic prehistory.  A once major Mayan city (Copan) which is said to have existed from the fifth century to the early ninth century, but by the time the Spanish arrived the city was overrun by the jungle and no human trace of the Mayans existed. 

   After three centuries of Spanish rule, Honduras was granted independence with the rest of the Central American provinces on September 15, 1821.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

“Amigo’s Wreck”  “Shark Ray Alley”

Part IV

“Amigo’s Wreck”

“Shark Ray Alley”

Part IV

The sandy beaches and the warm sun seems to never end here. The people of the island are so friendly and the food is delicious.  Believe it or not, I had the best beans and rice while there and the most tender chicken ever.  I found out later that they soak the chicken in coconut milk to make it that way. Yum!

We’re off to Amigo’s Wreck today where they sunk a 30 foot ship to attract bigger marine life; and it worked too.  I got to see big Nassau and black groupers, big hog fish snappers, nurse sharks and a couple of moray eels living in and around the wreck.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

San Pedro Belize

Part III

I was off for Belize on my first open water diving experience.  I was truly excited and nervous at the same time.  Once we arrived in Belize City, we caught a small plane that took us to Ambergris Caye, Belize (Belize’s largest island.) (Pronounced Am-BUR-gris or Am-BUR-grease Key) to San Pedro which is the only town on the island.

Looking down from the plane, the sea had a turquoise color to it with deep blues in places with depth.  I could see the shapes of sharks from above.  It was an amazing sight to see.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

 

        ”The First Step”  

                    Part I

It was so cold when I first stepped in, but in order for me to accomplish what I’ve always wanted to do I had to face my biggest fear, water. 

One of the requirements was to float or tread water for ten minutes.  I wasn’t a very good swimmer and already I could picture myself drowning.  But I’ve wanted to learn how to scuba dive. It was a dream that I’ve carried with me as far back as I can remember.

As a kid I watched Jacque Cousteau, seeing the wonders that lived and thrived under the sea through his eyes. Fascinated by the creatures he discovered.  Watching dolphins swim to sharks that hunt.  It was a world I wanted to see firsthand.

Go To Top

Focus on the Goal

by M. Eslinger

Kerrick, Texas

The Power of/In the Tongue
Have you ever, in a moment of stress or frustration said something to another person that hurt them deeply? I know I have.
“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.”
In all honesty, I would rather have my bones broken than have words that cut into my self confidence, my self esteem.
Many of us struggle with things that have been said to us over the years. Whether it came from a parent, teacher, friend, or we did it to someone else.
We’ve all heard negative things growing up and if we hear them all the time we actually come to believe that they are true. They’re always there at any given moment to replay itself over and over. Then one day you become the product of someone else’s label.”
“You stupid kid.” “Wish you’d been a boy;” “What were you thinking you idiot? Or “You’re ugly.” These words can haunt a person their entire life.

Go To Top