Dying Selflessness / The Honesty Policy / Man Overboard
Preface to my newsletter: Jessi and I have been dealing with more than our fair share of family matters here recently. I know many of you feel my sentiment! The time I’ve spent underwater recently is kind of like the water level in Lake Mead and Lake Powell… Severely low and in danger of not perpetuating energy. I may strap on a tank and jump in the nearest pool when I’m done writing.
Red Tide? / Thanks Sahara / Ocean Salvors
First let’s summarize local diving conditions recently. Viz: below average. Temperature: beautiful. Feel: wet and wonderful. Marine Life: abundant when you’re close to it.
Conflicted / Endangered Species / Goldilocks in Rehab / Anger or Depression?
Conflicted, in so many ways. Most of the time I wish I could collectively slap all of humanity in the face. I continually feel a strong sense of sorrow for how we have treated Mother Earth. I also feel a strong sense of sorrow that more of us don’t feel that same sense of sorrow. Maybe then we could repair the damage that we’ve inflicted. Human (nature) is a disease to which there seems no cure. Yet that same human nature can and does do amazing things for our Mother Earth. Take reef clean-ups and the upcoming Great Goliath Count for example (more info below).
Comebacks, Reverse Psychology, Staying Positive
Comebacks: are awesome, both in sporting events and in life. We are approaching the four year mark since 2018‘s merciless red tide impacted all the local marine life and devastated several species. Side note; after mentally weighing those opening lines I went back and reread my August 2018 Captain‘s Chronicle. I found it very interesting and consistent that I used the word ‘mercilessly’ to describe the red tide. I was in a very passionate place and it’s an interesting read so I will include it at the end of this newsletter.
Family, Fried Turkey, Nudibranchs
If there can be one day when we put our differences aside and just focus on the bounty and abundance that truly is our reality, let it be Thanksgiving! Family doesn’t mean interconnected bloodlines it means the people in your life that you are closest to!
Splotchy Water / Free Creamy Deliciousness / Change and Growth
I like the word ‘splotchy’, it sounds more watery than ‘patchy’ or ‘blotchy’. All of those words describe water clarity within 15 miles in the Gulf of Mexico recently. Not that we have a huge sample size of dives to base that on, but I did speak with Melody’s hubby Dan today who flies Collier’s med-evac helicopter. It’s very informative to get aerial reports from pilots that fly over the water, they can see the clarity from the sky far better than we can from a boat!
One Fish Two Fish, Sticks & Stones, Under Pressure:
One Fish, two fish, small fish, medium fish, large fish. Those are the three size classifications for anyone doing the Great Goliath Grouper Count. It takes place annually the first two weeks of June throughout the state and divers are the force that gets ‘er done! I’m looking forward to meeting Mike Sippos, who in communicating with him, seems as cool as his job title is long.
Preparation’D’, Media Schmeedia, Anomalies Becoming Normality's
Implementing Preparation ’D’ is far better than having to apply Preparation ‘H’! According to the dictionary ‘prepare’ means: to get (something) ready for use or consideration. Of course the D means diving! We generally make a push this time of the year to motivate you guys to get your gear serviced now as opposed to just a few days before you plan on using it.