I just got back from a week in Barbados. It is an incredible little island country and I had the best time ever!!! I seriously want to move there! So, I have to make some money or figure out a way to make a living there… like become a dive master or a tourism representative! It is so absolutely chill and serene…And beyond the gorgeous scenery, I love the Bajan people; they are totally beautiful, friendly, well-educated, peaceful and proud of their homeland with great manners!
While speaking with local Bajans, I was told that they just don't worry about the small stuff because life is too short not to enjoy it! What a welcome change from my harried New York City existence. Bajans are vibrant and kind to strangers without expecting things in return. And with equalitarian, preservation and humane national policies, they really know how to take care of their own. Incidentally, all beaches in Barbados are public domain; by law, no beaches may be sanctioned as private. Barbados is also pretty clean and the tourists aocals are interspersed quite easily. Suffice it to say, I think that the people of Barbados are some of the best people in the world!
We really had a ball! We danced at the Boatyard, dived (7 times) with Roger’s Scuba Shack (I <3 Roger!), we dined in the St. Lawrence Gap as well as local home cooking joints, we shopped and ate the freshest fish ever at Oisten’s Fish Fry! We also ate at Chefette in Bridgetown and drank lots of rum drinks pretty much everywhere. We lounged at the Hilton's beach and played in the crystal clear waters. And…I got a kick ass tan! If you look at my posted pics, you can see a semblance of just how happy I was the whole trip. Incidentally, our underwater photos and my friend’s pictures are yet to be posted.
We dedicated three days and one night to scuba diving which is now the greatest joy of my life!!! Of course, music is still my first love and I will never abandon her… but with scuba diving I’ve found inner peace! I'm now certified as an "Adventure Diver" by PADI. That's just 2 dives away from "Advanced Diver" certification. Now, I'm able to dive with a buddy down to 130 feet without a dive master or dive pro for supervision. In the deep dive which will go towards advanced certification, we descended to 90 feet below and I had no problems whatsosever. During that dive, we drifted with the current and barely had to use our fins.
During several dives we toured numerous ship wrecks which have become living coral homes to life forms including lobsters, crabs, and octopus and fascinating creepy crawly things other water beings… and of course, fish of all different shapes, sizes and colors. They all have their clever niches for safety and specialized skills. In addition to ship wreck dives, we dived very large natural reefs with various sponge varieties that change color in the deep. We saw lots and lots of brain coral everywhere and sea urchins nestled within the exquisite formations. In the sandy parts of the dives, there were eagle rays, spiny sea biscuits, furry sand dollars and camouflage rock fish. Life existed in every crevice. Fish of uncountable breeds, sea anemone and turtles from small to giant proportions!
My fifth out of seven dives was my first dive as an officially certified "Open Water Diver". It was actually a Night Dive which was truly the highlight! With flashlights in hand, we saw glowing non-stinging jelly fish and creatures that only came out at night. I actually saw a lobster vs. crab fight; it was hilarious, I had to hold my regulator in my mouth to keep from cracking up and swallowing water. Just thinking of that still makes me chuckle. There was luminescence in microscopic organisms floating around everywhere. And because of the deep, constant and slow breathing, it’s really easy to relax and enjoy it all. Actually, the slower a diver goes, the longer their air supply lasts. I feel that under the sea is the most peaceful place to be. If you have any desire to explore the great unknown, I encourage you to take the plunge for yourself! It’s the closest thing to being an astronaut!
I "love" Barbados, but I am "in love" with diving in Barbados!
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