tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-14631677183620397182024-03-13T00:20:35.197-07:00The Coconut Tree TelegraphEvery day is a new adventure at Coconut Tree Divers - we'll keep you posted!CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-54142712422356809572012-12-14T09:33:00.000-08:002012-12-14T09:33:41.564-08:00Winter Flights, Shop News, The Josie J Wreck<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As we're now well into the swing of winter, the seasons for flights to Roatan have changed once again, so here is a brief update on your options for direct flights to the island:</span><br />
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From Houston with <a href="http://www.united.com/web/en-US/default.aspx?root=1">United/Continental</a> on Saturdays (2 flights) and Sundays (1 flight). In the Christmas season they have also added a Friday flight.</span><br />
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From Atlanta with <a href="http://www.delta.com/">Delta</a> on Saturdays (1 flight)</span><br />
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From Miami with <a href="http://www.aa.com/">American Airlines</a> on Saturdays (1 flight)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From Toronto/Montreal with <a href="http://www.sunwing.ca/">Sunwing Airlines</a> on Mondays, and <a href="http://www.canjet.com/">CANJet</a> on Thursdays (the departure airport varies throughout the seasons.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From a variety of Central American mainland airports with <a href="http://www.taca.com/">TACA</a>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A variety of different websites can help you with multi-city and stopover itineraries; my personal favourite is <a href="http://www.skyscanner.net/">Skyscanner</a>, as it also indexes "low cost airlines", and has many different search options.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This past Sunday we had a visit from Michael Barnette, founder of the Association of Underwater Explorers and prolific cave and wreck diver and writer to check out the Josie J. Marco, who was Tec certified by Monty earlier in the year, served as his guide and dive buddy on their 190ft profile. Here are a few highlights from the trip - taken and generously provided by Michael.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2aZOGFPhRd9hpBf691LJb1FX9jDCbjl26OutxgMDWrBKl8ChKYfPX9CLBX6yNQX0buiInd1USLi6mMkBVxygoeLsLNjtM2OY_cUjuSylwhhVe1XkxGIbgEIKOknbwqBYyd-GoVcjwGo/s1600/josiejbus.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR2aZOGFPhRd9hpBf691LJb1FX9jDCbjl26OutxgMDWrBKl8ChKYfPX9CLBX6yNQX0buiInd1USLi6mMkBVxygoeLsLNjtM2OY_cUjuSylwhhVe1XkxGIbgEIKOknbwqBYyd-GoVcjwGo/s400/josiejbus.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Marco and the bus under the Josie J</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For Michael's article on Roatan Wrecks (he will be checking out El Aguila on Saturday), we have managed to secure the original footage of when the Josie J sank, courtesy of Mickey Charteris, author and photographer of the brand-new Caribbean Reef Life fish/creature ID book (more details on that as they come). We hope to be able to extract some viable stills from that footage for the article!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other shop news, Marco (instructor) and Marco (DMT) had a slow day in the shop, so they decided to do an underwater cleanup of Half Moon Bay. On their expedition, they had a Spotted Sea Hare En. Great job, guys!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Ju2ml7KuuDti8sZlRq7tfj1FrC6ReovSuVVedR5EOj1HNTaYqscL0-qw5QlMmNShic66qy5ia7GD3zcWX3V-pt90oHlAFqscsv9CV-BqhJe2-mloLdZENS3hhQXsZkZ-pBmV-UYbH8/s1600/before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI_Ju2ml7KuuDti8sZlRq7tfj1FrC6ReovSuVVedR5EOj1HNTaYqscL0-qw5QlMmNShic66qy5ia7GD3zcWX3V-pt90oHlAFqscsv9CV-BqhJe2-mloLdZENS3hhQXsZkZ-pBmV-UYbH8/s1600/before.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before Clean Up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWzJm_0v8tn058HrEdys8dWUY6gS4Waf5segt1IyUQ1bO4VJdINqXqUVwtCzKF6fDcIgX-IQrEAFdzwBPwdhUa62jxXcjPVeoa_5aTg7_dymQQd0gwuq6gGGUUdfVpOzC4RLqVA960nI/s1600/after.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjWzJm_0v8tn058HrEdys8dWUY6gS4Waf5segt1IyUQ1bO4VJdINqXqUVwtCzKF6fDcIgX-IQrEAFdzwBPwdhUa62jxXcjPVeoa_5aTg7_dymQQd0gwuq6gGGUUdfVpOzC4RLqVA960nI/s320/after.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After Clean up</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wj0RJSTD1SwVgilgQkrcDs9nVLa5cfhTTH2IOyADjfhce6OSNY_B2ZPpLuE7afzDIpmYmNyjJ9veSGU_bznXtCI4UUiz4T9D0nqX-rAG2XVsR9sLsBOC7tbXVAWE0_TLpUW6cmDN3sk/s1600/seahare.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1Wj0RJSTD1SwVgilgQkrcDs9nVLa5cfhTTH2IOyADjfhce6OSNY_B2ZPpLuE7afzDIpmYmNyjJ9veSGU_bznXtCI4UUiz4T9D0nqX-rAG2XVsR9sLsBOC7tbXVAWE0_TLpUW6cmDN3sk/s320/seahare.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Sea Hare</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is almost Christmas after all, so we dug out the Christmas decorations from their hiding place in the back room, including our very own <a href="http://www.rustyfish.com/">Rusty Fish</a> Christmas tree. Our....other "Christmas Tree" hasn't been brought back yet...photos to come closer to the day!</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJxO5gc_Ey_myJaiFZjMDCiMvT1UGMDt2fen9o_BFTDjoTU3oUDdElGKSBoYZh_KbzR6PylEIoZNdEARcfGGpi24JeLOJ9X3yKZPXuPBx0zRekCEzeEZhdDIzr6hrjTjh_vujq-1-3g0/s1600/IMG_2981.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgJxO5gc_Ey_myJaiFZjMDCiMvT1UGMDt2fen9o_BFTDjoTU3oUDdElGKSBoYZh_KbzR6PylEIoZNdEARcfGGpi24JeLOJ9X3yKZPXuPBx0zRekCEzeEZhdDIzr6hrjTjh_vujq-1-3g0/s320/IMG_2981.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusty Fish Christmas Tree</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are interested in seeing more of our photos from dives and courses, check out our <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/gallery.html">Photo Gallery</a> on our website, or the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/coconuttreediversandgoprocaribbean/photos_albums">Photo Albums</a> on our Facebook page. If you find yourself in any of our photos, like our page and tag yourself.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunny, calm and clear.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Photo Contest</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget: the </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/landing/photo-contes.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunglasses Photo Contest</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> is still on...submit your entry before the deadline!</span>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-47649711605613966572012-11-28T12:54:00.001-08:002012-11-28T12:54:29.177-08:00Safety First and DMT Resuce<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As many of you know, the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a> motto has always been "Safety First". We always have oxygen and first aid kits on the boat and in the shop, we check in between dives with our VHF radio and we make up a dive roster sheet for each outgoing boat. In addition to this, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/dive-crew.html#c">Captains Carl and Fred</a> (who stay on the boat to watch bubbles whilst the divers are down) are EFR certified.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have made some new additions to our safety equipment, mostly thanks to generous donations from EMT Rich Young from Saskatchewan. We now have two back boards (longspine boards), complete with full straps and neck supports, as well as neck braces. Only one of two working AEDs (Automatic External Defibrilators) in West End is now at Coconut Tree (Tree is working on the display cabinet - thanks to Rich's suggestion). We also restocked on Epi Pens, for use in case of severe allergic reactions; one for each first aid kit and a stock in the dive shop. A trauma kit with miscellaneous items is also on its way by cargo.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Check out a few <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/gallery/backboard-training-and-dmt-rescue.html">photos in our gallery</a> from our latest training session with Rich where we covered backboard use and transportation with an initial trauma assessment. Included are also extracts from today's <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/divemaster.html">PADI Divemaster Trainee</a> <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/rescue-diver.html">Rescue</a> Assessment Exercises with Chef Marco, ScubaMax and Canadian Cole.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJZayHi7q5KD99LdU8UxDCWJJOMpYnuEtC2ajGG6MVFvRnk71v2bnBg5EiBG3tC3AxrxyhVbF5FI1Cm9wC242yL9SLnmTwvrVWUUdrw7PZvUJjinIy6IpseXhCgys4O1Nbe-5RtTlzo/s1600/backboard.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOQJZayHi7q5KD99LdU8UxDCWJJOMpYnuEtC2ajGG6MVFvRnk71v2bnBg5EiBG3tC3AxrxyhVbF5FI1Cm9wC242yL9SLnmTwvrVWUUdrw7PZvUJjinIy6IpseXhCgys4O1Nbe-5RtTlzo/s320/backboard.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Trauma Assessment. Saskatchewan Rich is the one with the coffee cup</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">log roll and head support</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoaa9bpw-CZoPyWoYpkQ15vsWKsFkogZJ4lgIlXZmr0cQuZx-n0k0QEC0t9zJAINXM7QS1x0UVsgkzXqKhFLSHaaGIw5e9C-K2Hef7nlj1gqKG_lUaodT5BHhotK_62R3MCi6L6KWfpQ/s1600/rescue1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="209" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipoaa9bpw-CZoPyWoYpkQ15vsWKsFkogZJ4lgIlXZmr0cQuZx-n0k0QEC0t9zJAINXM7QS1x0UVsgkzXqKhFLSHaaGIw5e9C-K2Hef7nlj1gqKG_lUaodT5BHhotK_62R3MCi6L6KWfpQ/s320/rescue1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">In-water rescue breaths</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Surfacing the unresponsive diver</td></tr>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overcast, enough rain to clog up the softball field yet again. 4 Dives out today.</span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last but not Least</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Don't forget about our CTD Shades <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/landing/photo-contes.html">photo contest</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Suggestions for new topics are always welcome, so don't hesitate to leave a comment!</span></div>
CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-91800057397800668222012-11-27T11:56:00.000-08:002012-11-27T11:56:23.472-08:00Dive Gear Review: Oceanic SWIV SPG<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm not the usual "Dive Gear Review" contributor, but there are a few items I've been meaning to voice an opinion about.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">SPGs. An extremely important piece of equipment. You're not much good on a dive if you don't know the pressure of the contents of your tank (we're in the 21st century, so no more <a href="http://www.scuba-tutor.com/diving-equipment/tanks/j-valve.php">J-valves</a> for us!). As a working dive instructor, I've always opted for a mechanical SPG, as opposed to a transducer linked to a dive computer. The reasoning behind this is twofold: mechanical SPGs are not as expensive, but I've also seen far cases of the transducers failing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Or so I thought, until I replaced my old Sherwood SPG (many years of use) with an <a href="http://www.oceanicworldwide.com/us/swiv-spg-gauge/">Oceanic SWIV</a>. A quick online search shows it retailing for between USD 75 to 106. After the first one flooded after less than 10 dives, I thought I might just have a defective product. I replaced that one with another one on a console I used to use. Another 5 dives, and that one also failed. At this point, I'm not happy. No pressure gauge, no work. I had to replace it with a THIRD one (given to me by a friend, brand new, who was getting rid of her spare parts), until the new one I ordered could be shipped down. When that one failed, I put my other backup old old Dacor, until I could get a new one got delivered (it can take up to two weeks, minimum, to get anything shipped to the island).</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRaUHn0soLZPuirJhK5u90e6NRZT0TKC92WVGUsmO7rD2g435ggfr0dy4dv0i50MqaKfFgDMYsSCGC9GbPbvwMF-VCNB8Yimg2RS3WThjmGzy40PQNrTKLFU21buXUMflIaESGvBnJaQ/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiRaUHn0soLZPuirJhK5u90e6NRZT0TKC92WVGUsmO7rD2g435ggfr0dy4dv0i50MqaKfFgDMYsSCGC9GbPbvwMF-VCNB8Yimg2RS3WThjmGzy40PQNrTKLFU21buXUMflIaESGvBnJaQ/s1600/IMG_2745.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvQCH6SPrNuX1DkaJvNyauE5_CP0cc112H24DHkuNsOK9OZhs0wA87Mtvs7NebF0OfHnKqsDR89GP75icvkXXGWKddywaMLU9ARz8G2hmwdiRtLEJrLBJfKEPUBIsyxJdZsDC0c7XC54/s1600/IMG_2746.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHvQCH6SPrNuX1DkaJvNyauE5_CP0cc112H24DHkuNsOK9OZhs0wA87Mtvs7NebF0OfHnKqsDR89GP75icvkXXGWKddywaMLU9ARz8G2hmwdiRtLEJrLBJfKEPUBIsyxJdZsDC0c7XC54/s1600/IMG_2746.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before people start jumping down my throat about dust caps and flooding regulators, that definitely isn't what happened. After the first one failed, I had my regulator (1st stage Scubapro MK2) fully serviced, and had the o-rings on my (new) high pressure hose inspected.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So...moral of the story: <b>three thumbs down</b> (one for each bad SPG).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Next up from me: the successful replacement</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overcast, calm, intermittent rain showers.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTnqZo8MoGbBJFiBRwgfnJy9j5-YsqakJsHrIAP9JkIAPRPB6DD9aQTEMonDJJUSZLsDu5zLyUJzuKqzAR90zxTL2E_G0vWxBf71eh-ngxjjTfbriLqkL7aaVbl_S1i-csQC2hvvqF-Q/s1600/flamingo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOTnqZo8MoGbBJFiBRwgfnJy9j5-YsqakJsHrIAP9JkIAPRPB6DD9aQTEMonDJJUSZLsDu5zLyUJzuKqzAR90zxTL2E_G0vWxBf71eh-ngxjjTfbriLqkL7aaVbl_S1i-csQC2hvvqF-Q/s1600/flamingo.jpg" height="144" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamingo Tongue</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTxB1hsBHjL6JuXLgSABjz86IbP3nTfjnVXOdQbTaJ4D1rdHckNfREiK471sDnulasgLHQdIg_DFQWIeciKhY0f-e_a59X8KdyT7OrruqrWu188JRDd2qA69z26RDZyJRSsYE2XK-XGw/s1600/pipefish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCTxB1hsBHjL6JuXLgSABjz86IbP3nTfjnVXOdQbTaJ4D1rdHckNfREiK471sDnulasgLHQdIg_DFQWIeciKhY0f-e_a59X8KdyT7OrruqrWu188JRDd2qA69z26RDZyJRSsYE2XK-XGw/s1600/pipefish.jpg" height="201" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipefish</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z4KdzRuV9xL1V-8tGjSOBCS3vxIdby4TXKheI7ab0Qclc9TycHLDmzlUFxLz93Nj9XdU5KKfgeMVH1Wb5kVRPNb0raxBX62wzyJqm_X1EPPYcu65wrPuZnE_EkutLyncu-MrDRfxEWY/s1600/tritonia.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_Z4KdzRuV9xL1V-8tGjSOBCS3vxIdby4TXKheI7ab0Qclc9TycHLDmzlUFxLz93Nj9XdU5KKfgeMVH1Wb5kVRPNb0raxBX62wzyJqm_X1EPPYcu65wrPuZnE_EkutLyncu-MrDRfxEWY/s1600/tritonia.jpg" height="308" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hamner's Tritonia</td></tr>
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CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com1West End, Hondúras16.305823 -86.594320316.290583 -86.6140613 16.321063 -86.574579300000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-83481657579015564272012-11-09T17:47:00.000-08:002012-11-09T17:47:57.878-08:00Getting Knotty w/ AdamIf you are planning on heading down to do your PADI Divemaster course we recommend you check the video link below. It is an introduction to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ropework" target="_blank">Marlinspike seamanship</a>. Learn the proper way to refer to the "rope", what's the bitter end the standing part, an overhand and underhand turn.<br />
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The clip was shot in the Coconut Tree Divers classroom with Adam guiding you through the first set of knots. Learn a half hitch, a clove hitch, a cleat hitch, and a bowline. These knots are used on a daily basis here at the shop. DMTs receive instruction on how to do them, but it's up to them to practice and master them.<br />
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Let us know if there are any particular topics you would like us to cover. If you are not a member sign up for the blog. </div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01983467348366684012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-88494922651816794552012-11-08T13:51:00.000-08:002012-11-08T13:51:08.838-08:00Enter the Photo ContestBig thanks to everyone who nominated Coconut Tree Divers in the <a href="http://www.padi.com/" target="_blank">PADI</a> favorite diveshop competition. We made it to the next round and were one of eight shops chosen world wide. From this point on, it was about votes. Hundreds of you submitted your vote for the little dive shop that could, or tried anyhow. In the end, Abyss Scuba from Australia won. Congratulations to them.<br />
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We had PADI Instructors from Native Sons, Sueno del Mar, West End Divers, Anthony's Key Resort in addition to the many Divemasters and Fun Divers who voted for CTD and the Bay Islands. It was lots of fun and we thank you for the support. <br />
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The competition has prompted us to create our own in house contest. Enter for a chance to win a five dive package. For additional information click <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/landing/photo-contes.html" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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In short take a picture of the Coconut Tree Divers sunglasses and submit it to us. Don't just send the picture you need to enter first. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnglGU-CyEOnkFX5upo82pT6BjRk96N_TljphZ2rfvSpd1gU62ppkTjMEh9XD29XBoW6YDK6TxECc8ZeLxMMeUnJfu8O1qsmNTwVdrOMQCxjuyIJW7JCyaJB81G7yLG5qGIzApZ2H7imEX/s1600/repkaShades.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnglGU-CyEOnkFX5upo82pT6BjRk96N_TljphZ2rfvSpd1gU62ppkTjMEh9XD29XBoW6YDK6TxECc8ZeLxMMeUnJfu8O1qsmNTwVdrOMQCxjuyIJW7JCyaJB81G7yLG5qGIzApZ2H7imEX/s320/repkaShades.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Paul, one of our recent Divemaster and Instrutor submitted this pair. <br />
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We will post the pictures and vote on a winner. Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01983467348366684012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-56014613530300267762012-10-21T13:01:00.001-07:002012-10-23T13:57:45.121-07:00Are we YOUR favourite dive shop? Vote Now!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A large number of you, our customers, have come back time and time again to us here at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a>. Some of you even come back at the same times of year, on a yearly basis, so we must be doing something right!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.padi.com/">PADI</a> has launched a "Dive Shop Appreciation Contest" where you can nominate your favourite dive shop (with a chance for the individual voter and the dive shop getting a prize). If we are your favourite dive shop, nominate us! All that is required is a few words on why we are awesome, and a photo. Click the link below to find out more!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Click <a href="https://www.facebook.com/PADI?sk=app_95936962634">HERE</a> to nominate <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a>!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news, Potlicker came out of dry dock with a fresh coat of paint, a repaired platform, and we're waiting for the refurbished tank holders to dry out before we put them back in service. There are still a few things that need to be done, for which we need a rain-free window.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We also made our first run of the season to the South Side, where several seahorses were spotted. (We've been seeing more of those everywhere, actually!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">A few of us <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/dive-crew.html#i">Instructors</a>, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/dive-crew.html#d">Divemaster Trainees</a> and customers went through the <a href="http://www.roatanmarinepark.com/">Roatan Marine Park</a> programme for Lionfish Spearing Licenses with Nic from the <a href="http://www.roatanmarinepark.com/">Marine Park</a>. In an effort to protect the environment, the <a href="http://www.roatanmarinepark.com/">RMP</a> representatives evaluate divers' buoyancy control (no exceptions, even instructors) and spearing skills before issuing a license.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs72L1FtZ89MBtyNV7TuhDaL-RW-ra5psLP1W01jRqt04rtgoKR4gBh8_GN5MaT1p7DZ3YdTYWNoQghj1jrsjZUVXN8H6-OLQKx-maOShPAP-HcNZF_co7zluznpswONP1Xz1Z3ppBWvA/s1600/lionfish.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs72L1FtZ89MBtyNV7TuhDaL-RW-ra5psLP1W01jRqt04rtgoKR4gBh8_GN5MaT1p7DZ3YdTYWNoQghj1jrsjZUVXN8H6-OLQKx-maOShPAP-HcNZF_co7zluznpswONP1Xz1Z3ppBWvA/s320/lionfish.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lionfish Kill</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There will be an upcoming post with a lot more detail on the Lionfish problem, and a guide on how to properly spear and kill them.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY68IiwZ6CMP22CYHV85U1vItr4bZSpqZxC-h0qq2ZNxcbvssepJREahB8y_CFCF0YgGjyAtAEIAwDMqtIhnNgGM9XcLQ42dtsPWmCRtlErMKrz3pxbGEZQ_W5H2eETKhII4TYt2Y8tPs/s1600/dolphins.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY68IiwZ6CMP22CYHV85U1vItr4bZSpqZxC-h0qq2ZNxcbvssepJREahB8y_CFCF0YgGjyAtAEIAwDMqtIhnNgGM9XcLQ42dtsPWmCRtlErMKrz3pxbGEZQ_W5H2eETKhII4TYt2Y8tPs/s320/dolphins.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spinner Dolphins!!</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5lsFofhTYdgTbl3qUAa_V_bHYo07ADGDH11pURksR3ljMp7gsKYMj6Q1LwT3bLKk-e1Bw0QMJ1KxCeTjvQBoAtqqeiSXT04PvAvfMq5i16D7dhPjerCXSPC-kB36YZHKB-2IF9XIvKY/s1600/neck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM5lsFofhTYdgTbl3qUAa_V_bHYo07ADGDH11pURksR3ljMp7gsKYMj6Q1LwT3bLKk-e1Bw0QMJ1KxCeTjvQBoAtqqeiSXT04PvAvfMq5i16D7dhPjerCXSPC-kB36YZHKB-2IF9XIvKY/s320/neck.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We love Neck Crabs</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And somewhere here, there should be a picture of a seahorse, from the Moonlight sand patch (photo maybe to come?)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half Moon Bay Weather Report</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Overcast, flat calm seas. Great diving conditions with excellent visibility!!</span></div>
CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-41619285556890303512012-10-16T12:28:00.000-07:002012-10-16T12:28:06.628-07:00Let's talk about Tips
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you've ever been in to a hotel/bar/restaurant/other service establishment, you may have seen these captions (or a variation thereof) scratched on a pot or jar somewhere on the counter:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Tipping is not a city in China"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Tipping is not illegal in Honduras"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"If you're close enough to read this, you're close enough to leave a tip"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">"Big tippers make better lovers"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">….etc…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We've gone for a simpler and more honest: "Tips are greatly appreciated".</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUhWyaw7NQZ-Mce6fgahXKusjn9pafZUmt8b6Ryj2-e8Y9DOI98EKy9686l5BJ_D4FDqUU3kJ7EZyAaR4vb2ux5B0vqQMNal_8Y6dmGf2l-cdC4RRCUOQgeGCK6RJF0_Wk1Kr02ZLTYg/s1600/IMG_2263.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijUhWyaw7NQZ-Mce6fgahXKusjn9pafZUmt8b6Ryj2-e8Y9DOI98EKy9686l5BJ_D4FDqUU3kJ7EZyAaR4vb2ux5B0vqQMNal_8Y6dmGf2l-cdC4RRCUOQgeGCK6RJF0_Wk1Kr02ZLTYg/s320/IMG_2263.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tip box by the front desk</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the slogans are funny, honest, and some are a even little edgier.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The thing is, they don't always answer the questions that our customers have about tipping policy here at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers.</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Addressing the issue with one of us in the dive shop, makes some people feel uncomfortable, so I thought that this might be a good place to answer some of these questions.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In some places, tipping is customary or even expected, but in other places it is not part of the culture - so for some people, it's hard to know even where to get started!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here is our guide to tipping:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Is tipping customary in the dive industry in Roatan?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pretty much any dive shop you walk into would agree with an emphatic yes! As the diving here is relatively inexpensive compared to many other places, tips (gratuities, if you will) are a very welcome supplement to our income.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>How are the tips shared out amongst the staff?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We divide our tips equally, on a weekly basis amongst the working dive instructors, our boat captains and our equipment manager/mechanic. Here at Coconut Tree Divers, we place a very high value and emphasis on teamwork, and our tip-sharing policy very much reflects this. We have a wooden box mounted on the post next to the front desk for that purpose.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>What is an appropriate amount to tip?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This is probably one of the questions that people feel most uncomfortable asking, and there are several possible answers. One of those answers is "whatever you feel comfortable with", because anything at all is always much appreciated. If you're looking for a more numerical value, 15-20% is often quoted as a decent baseline.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ultimately, a tip is an expression of gratuity for good service. We are customer-oriented establishment, and we strive to provide you with the best possible care and service to suit your diving needs. I hope that this has answered some of the questions that have come up recently (and remember: you can <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">ask us</a> anything!), feel free to leave a comment or <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">contact us</a> with any further questions.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS: if you're reading this, become a member of the blog - easy with a Gmail account - see the link to the right of the page.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">See previous post. More of the same, diving the flat-calm South Side today.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Fresh off the boat this morning, a Seahorse (photo not yet available!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g3H_Skgawwv-6g4-z-93trK3i_VUUOfsfbDnzrj0og0u1Rv6wAUVGF1hCm_8vCm9YRQu8cryxjCftRpNb2BWYSnQVnmAvaPQ84yKj8ZAvzw3A1oDlsKw_5WUZmq36t2tv5RGS6y6Ryk/s1600/crabs.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7g3H_Skgawwv-6g4-z-93trK3i_VUUOfsfbDnzrj0og0u1Rv6wAUVGF1hCm_8vCm9YRQu8cryxjCftRpNb2BWYSnQVnmAvaPQ84yKj8ZAvzw3A1oDlsKw_5WUZmq36t2tv5RGS6y6Ryk/s320/crabs.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Arrow crab shedding its skin</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOSFgUHZe3Xg4pY4lWSMwrKrCe0JUUL69I6pMdNAd44bv5npUKp2wSSzvsqNykpT8SMO1vkfC_rAtTVdkruW4NNSC0aG7oWeNpRRDuYv6PQNOL19KJtcLOazkm2LVX-cgibFVzS2-IUI/s1600/fireworm.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaOSFgUHZe3Xg4pY4lWSMwrKrCe0JUUL69I6pMdNAd44bv5npUKp2wSSzvsqNykpT8SMO1vkfC_rAtTVdkruW4NNSC0aG7oWeNpRRDuYv6PQNOL19KJtcLOazkm2LVX-cgibFVzS2-IUI/s320/fireworm.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Great shot Marco, Bearded Fireworm</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTAqrGFudguT_ac6Jrg5CKculw9jc49uTg-Cm56mYOo84rs4bv0H2vPPgZhHmPn8hyt_kvcMykxsskzuWVQo0lC_nBZRswOi_VHv4hOyAzF_kwcF8yMe2PsOBN853YfTv5RxhhRQqu40/s1600/pea.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyTAqrGFudguT_ac6Jrg5CKculw9jc49uTg-Cm56mYOo84rs4bv0H2vPPgZhHmPn8hyt_kvcMykxsskzuWVQo0lC_nBZRswOi_VHv4hOyAzF_kwcF8yMe2PsOBN853YfTv5RxhhRQqu40/s320/pea.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Juvenile Spotted Trunkfish (Reverse Pea)</td></tr>
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CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-65515539277092124592012-10-15T13:20:00.000-07:002012-10-16T11:03:14.956-07:00Sargassum It is a rare sight on our beach as we have been invaded by gulf-weed. According to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sargassum" target="_blank">Wikipedia</a> it can grow to several meters. In this instance it has taken over our entire beach. Usually a couple of guys bring out the shovels and rid the beach of debris. This incident calls for a backhoe which has been contracted to come clean the beach tomorrow.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05I2ofvtKhcP5U8W4SRbpz6thZxn33B_lTYyODpwoafxu6mzDTP8GByoYFf080w2jjMXNYPcSJFknm_FLdxguxeQqpxIUzqgIGHM5qmYdsTxlom6ucoubKClFvpBUukUTIUF4j3x88tP-/s1600/sargassumA.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg05I2ofvtKhcP5U8W4SRbpz6thZxn33B_lTYyODpwoafxu6mzDTP8GByoYFf080w2jjMXNYPcSJFknm_FLdxguxeQqpxIUzqgIGHM5qmYdsTxlom6ucoubKClFvpBUukUTIUF4j3x88tP-/s320/sargassumA.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2QuzdTKm6lgFeLv6oHGBSBA8sywuNunRTMvKXte4_wnpnun9dmSapHbNQByHI2zgZt9s0SL_IsZ5B4Saxx0PUswR1zWHLyKx0MnGlbXTNuVlDiA32C-ZFgRHmBSSjVmaNjytyCmE96LC/s1600/sargassumB.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjt2QuzdTKm6lgFeLv6oHGBSBA8sywuNunRTMvKXte4_wnpnun9dmSapHbNQByHI2zgZt9s0SL_IsZ5B4Saxx0PUswR1zWHLyKx0MnGlbXTNuVlDiA32C-ZFgRHmBSSjVmaNjytyCmE96LC/s320/sargassumB.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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In other news, Eimear from Ireland, Cole from Canada, and Zach from Florida have started their training towards becoming <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/divemaster.html" target="_blank">PADI Divemasters</a>. For now, they are currently working on their <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/rescue-diver.html" target="_blank">Rescue </a>course. And yes, we went out in the bay with all this Sargassum and surge. We did giant strides off the dock and avoided it on the way in. The viz is as clear as mushroom soup in the near swim-zone but clears up real good out in the far sand patches. Luckily enough during self rescue skills we came face to face with a Southern Stingray. </div>
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Potlicker's days in dry dock are almost completed. She is being painted and will return to rotation in a couple of days sporting her new swim platform. </div>
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The weather is a bit suspect these days. Then again we are still wearing sandals. We hope to see you sooner than later. Best wishes from Roatan. </div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01983467348366684012noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-35480174949730353832012-10-10T12:33:00.000-07:002012-10-10T12:33:38.849-07:00Paul Repka- Computer Genius or Beach Bum??<br />
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The story
of Paul Repka begins on a sunny afternoon after a long day of diving, when a
bald, bearded, biker-looking old guy walked onto the deck of <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/" target="_blank">CTD</a>. As Will, our
resident Course Director greeted him, all of the<a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/divemaster.html" target="_blank"> DMT</a>s started wondering who
this person was, who looked so completely out of place at a Dive Shop. Soon it
was known he was to join the ranks of the DMT's, and so would become part of
our little family.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0pWZRW4INiedCFitHeDauWCwF9IqmEfcWoDUkgBNGzuwwsK4I7AJD-eZVYZDziBVMtNOySbGl3mx-J7by-Pqnb-rucbMLAkJHHyun6blu-p6ww1-e3ijqcFBQc3GXCdoyNa3yXF380D4/s1600/528597_10151183226934839_1969293014_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0pWZRW4INiedCFitHeDauWCwF9IqmEfcWoDUkgBNGzuwwsK4I7AJD-eZVYZDziBVMtNOySbGl3mx-J7by-Pqnb-rucbMLAkJHHyun6blu-p6ww1-e3ijqcFBQc3GXCdoyNa3yXF380D4/s200/528597_10151183226934839_1969293014_n.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i>Paul Repka. Old, biker-looking, bald and bearded..</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Everyone
suddenly had a question for him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">"Are
you a biker?", "How old are you?", "Are you insane?" <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As it turns
out, Paul was just a regular suburban man, Milwaukee born and raised, (or Mwaukeeee, as he calls his home town), who decided to take a break from his
consulting firm and spend a month or two in the pristine beaches of Roatan. A
computer nerd who plays hockey, likes to fish, drinks like a fish, and in his
free time he loves jetting off to somewhere in the Caribbean to dive, usually
accompanied by his lovely wife, Peg. (sorry ladies, he's taken) <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVPimM6G0BSycwcCJaTnqh38C-gq-bqBwIunOQSozg3g2giIfJ_IhQlGw2yRIk4r7RQqJZdjuTGjUb3jJPZ4tsRNLqvG89VbTkkJ_K-ysS7_r3l0t1Xxn3HeyDGyDgBu39uojgUNxXbO2/s1600/210203_3874184045682_1353794854_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlVPimM6G0BSycwcCJaTnqh38C-gq-bqBwIunOQSozg3g2giIfJ_IhQlGw2yRIk4r7RQqJZdjuTGjUb3jJPZ4tsRNLqvG89VbTkkJ_K-ysS7_r3l0t1Xxn3HeyDGyDgBu39uojgUNxXbO2/s320/210203_3874184045682_1353794854_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US"><i>Paul and
Peg, out in the blue.</i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">He was not
an amateur diver, being already certified as a <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/rescue-diver.html" target="_blank">PADI Rescue Diver</a>, and now he
was looking to Go Pro. But being a DMT wasn't going to cramp his style. First
thing he did was to find the coolest house in West End and establish a home
base. He then proceeded to throw a couple of parties there, which turned him
into everybody’s best friend from the start. He was a great DMT, working as
hard, and most of the times harder than everyone else to make sure things ran
smoothly around the shop. A great and fun diver, he was ready to act whenever a
customer needed anything, from spare weights to friendly advice. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDueSLq_NlwLDb9UQY7The_oaCQMyeMzzt3nqpGF8IHQitL3Wx0aR7h-Nbd_T9_o5cW_zMOOPxAAbyYkeUi84YAn96PkQbsazP1lLDi-V8HWKJIBh66Kt8JFYMDzYNWjwqpa3AfqAYQha/s1600/277240_4016891733285_1750328596_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWDueSLq_NlwLDb9UQY7The_oaCQMyeMzzt3nqpGF8IHQitL3Wx0aR7h-Nbd_T9_o5cW_zMOOPxAAbyYkeUi84YAn96PkQbsazP1lLDi-V8HWKJIBh66Kt8JFYMDzYNWjwqpa3AfqAYQha/s320/277240_4016891733285_1750328596_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span lang="EN-US" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Receiving
his diploma from Will <br />after completing the IDC</span></i></span></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">But it
wasn’t all fun and games. Paul was a man on a mission, and he planned to get as
much out of the vacation as he could. In a short time he had a spear fishing
license, and a Side mount certification. Pretty soon he decided he would start
his <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/idc-open-water-scuba-instructor.html" target="_blank">IDC</a> and get certified as an instructor. After a lot of hard work with Will,
he aced his Instructor exams and was officially certified. He then proceeded to
pop his cherry here at CTD and certified his first two <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/open-water-diver.html" target="_blank">Open Water Diver</a>s! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpWY5kiWD8PWprNs2I1mofzv3t_UWAId19mrV5_1q9NFxWgiw0n8OIiER6kP-juYKFYTGiCGLM75mfa4hcfVzwPIP7n9BVneIUbkSJESktL9o3O5Et95hodC22p1IhCqar22-glncu_Gz/s1600/176284_4081981760495_1721834986_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnpWY5kiWD8PWprNs2I1mofzv3t_UWAId19mrV5_1q9NFxWgiw0n8OIiER6kP-juYKFYTGiCGLM75mfa4hcfVzwPIP7n9BVneIUbkSJESktL9o3O5Et95hodC22p1IhCqar22-glncu_Gz/s320/176284_4081981760495_1721834986_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Repka and his first two Open Water Students</i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">Three
months after he arrived on Roatan, Paul was now a Dive Instructor, a known
personality around the bars in West End, and all-round beach bum. After being
declared mentally insane by his wife, he packed his bags and made his way back home,
throwing a huge going away party that lasted for about a week. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFT7_X1VEoymm6rOykxlJu1yfpw-VqhshEmg3ZSGCMe6El6F7rS4WBvS08F8y2UbGnB5ZEq3t3n1nNO2d3NfRjsH40_aDfyJXUjiMe543lw3Fn0TKoR89kUC7vH1b4JZRw_IZj1n_Kh-U/s1600/336985_4016913653833_1551145840_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnFT7_X1VEoymm6rOykxlJu1yfpw-VqhshEmg3ZSGCMe6El6F7rS4WBvS08F8y2UbGnB5ZEq3t3n1nNO2d3NfRjsH40_aDfyJXUjiMe543lw3Fn0TKoR89kUC7vH1b4JZRw_IZj1n_Kh-U/s320/336985_4016913653833_1551145840_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>A night on the town for P, Repka</i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">A really
cool guy, we all learned something from Paul and he learned something from all
of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Everyone at
CTD will miss him and hope he eventually convinces his wife of moving down
here.<br />
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<br />
Here are some things the Staff at CTD had to say about Paul:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Paul
is hilarious and a great lionfish
hunting buddy”</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvhLgd-VQxBDXoy14UuN0UZh0meHgVlAFUXv29VyZPX62s5ZjsvelFewpoBii_f8WIwh-AmkMeNIqZP7V1Cn-8Vj_PG-Re0PfmHaBZbH9jc2qaycH82VrWAX19v7ib1azuqMOYo4zi5dO/s1600/244284_4034857182410_1009978241_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZvhLgd-VQxBDXoy14UuN0UZh0meHgVlAFUXv29VyZPX62s5ZjsvelFewpoBii_f8WIwh-AmkMeNIqZP7V1Cn-8Vj_PG-Re0PfmHaBZbH9jc2qaycH82VrWAX19v7ib1azuqMOYo4zi5dO/s200/244284_4034857182410_1009978241_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Even underwater he never lost his groove</i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Paul is
the inventor of a new Side-Plop Open Water Entry, the Repka”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Pauuuul???
Is always good for a laugh and provoked mask clearing practice a little too
often”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc8thaPnTYH9MXtpcfrrTO2Mq7MPiG6-TQrg6xRXCWbzBOHCJrAsO3Hg_8I7MpP4cjKsX1R6PS9KQ52KdKYmn8Z-ckGeBP6QVR0fyzZbKr19MrxLYmxQ93uDo0IkqkRRT2lo7HO-vg1J_/s1600/190974_4081993800796_103450596_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="274" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQc8thaPnTYH9MXtpcfrrTO2Mq7MPiG6-TQrg6xRXCWbzBOHCJrAsO3Hg_8I7MpP4cjKsX1R6PS9KQ52KdKYmn8Z-ckGeBP6QVR0fyzZbKr19MrxLYmxQ93uDo0IkqkRRT2lo7HO-vg1J_/s320/190974_4081993800796_103450596_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>At Sundowner's Beach Bar, where he spent most of his time.</i></td></tr>
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<span lang="EN-US">“We will
miss that Salope”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Pauuuul?
Obnoxious but funny, so he gets away with it and we love him”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3go08RP4JXhVVj6bZM31wNTx2HJ5e_ov2PS2CjtmNVwQXDVDm6NRBa-dHZJJauN35_nCej75bfL5JvgI5RKK-mmrDV1W9C_y49WAPg1JCH0_UNcHA7hubfyjaeuHAnhlOJhFYG4TNpraa/s1600/341155_3874226766750_1478741359_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3go08RP4JXhVVj6bZM31wNTx2HJ5e_ov2PS2CjtmNVwQXDVDm6NRBa-dHZJJauN35_nCej75bfL5JvgI5RKK-mmrDV1W9C_y49WAPg1JCH0_UNcHA7hubfyjaeuHAnhlOJhFYG4TNpraa/s320/341155_3874226766750_1478741359_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Dinner party at Paul's</i></td></tr>
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“Paul was a great person to have around the shop, always ready to help with a smile and a joke. Love You”</div>
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<span lang="EN-US">“Paul was
the most beautiful Yaba Ding Ding Queen we’ve ever seen”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElXKKjWPy6eP_Qcx3H2-3a6E4jFAcNOQjKhW64wEcYmj5x6Lq_rY9sOp4DS_FHULM0ldtg2ncnwPtX2NRoXSi9PiB9Jh28_NMED6aanH7Jx0ANkqxINYQMCVEaPT3GGzLFBjS46AqcfB/s1600/384570_10152199629315157_308527197_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWElXKKjWPy6eP_Qcx3H2-3a6E4jFAcNOQjKhW64wEcYmj5x6Lq_rY9sOp4DS_FHULM0ldtg2ncnwPtX2NRoXSi9PiB9Jh28_NMED6aanH7Jx0ANkqxINYQMCVEaPT3GGzLFBjS46AqcfB/s400/384570_10152199629315157_308527197_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>After seeing this photo, Peg (Paul's wife) started worrying about <br />his mental health and decided <br />he should get back to the real world</i></td></tr>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-8034092389390912882012-10-08T09:43:00.000-07:002012-10-08T09:43:10.856-07:00Meet Notmy!<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtZlgbZ8neVDvJxoJXbBSJpEHiGx9z_VXo0z2ttRedExRwpGT2PEFnOw61_ZftWO8mlzazjqm_8lqHc6HNjJJRj_s0VJ1fb4eeFX-9O-MEdzASj2F3YH4AjohMrWowcynW4JYMM3EoBA/s1600/Jay%2527s+photo+of+Notmy.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxtZlgbZ8neVDvJxoJXbBSJpEHiGx9z_VXo0z2ttRedExRwpGT2PEFnOw61_ZftWO8mlzazjqm_8lqHc6HNjJJRj_s0VJ1fb4eeFX-9O-MEdzASj2F3YH4AjohMrWowcynW4JYMM3EoBA/s320/Jay%2527s+photo+of+Notmy.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The new SCT (<a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/dive-crew.html#s">Shop Cat Trainee</a>)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notmy has been hanging around the shop for six weeks now. Whenever she peeped out from under Cindy’s deck, PJ would frighten her away and yell “it’s not my effing cat” (hence the name). We finally coaxed her out from under the deck with the promise of spaghetti meatballs.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uQ0z4P202YAxqmllis8SqKIgprxDzL4u4paWcNHl44gw9jezhq27ZMnyoU7ojLeKVNI3pWZaX0TdAntni9heSFaaeAUdsCeApHwDhUHhYaa3pDimJpqxv2aA8kYXk5AiDpIM0lV-_gw/s1600/Notmy+with+glasses.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-uQ0z4P202YAxqmllis8SqKIgprxDzL4u4paWcNHl44gw9jezhq27ZMnyoU7ojLeKVNI3pWZaX0TdAntni9heSFaaeAUdsCeApHwDhUHhYaa3pDimJpqxv2aA8kYXk5AiDpIM0lV-_gw/s320/Notmy+with+glasses.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunglasses? Notmy is Notsure!</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdchxHpNmAnbBSHZEa0kM0-j_yB9XLg6M0HFhWOnfY_RLW5A9z3Q0nlt-JwBUfyX39ygw_LZuXzIJ3dsZ6v2enGmm30Ww7k4FqKbmi_2oFfVvvm_wW0FRo1TaB_5lGC7CiS5jmmD1DQRk/s1600/Notmy+with+rope.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="275" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdchxHpNmAnbBSHZEa0kM0-j_yB9XLg6M0HFhWOnfY_RLW5A9z3Q0nlt-JwBUfyX39ygw_LZuXzIJ3dsZ6v2enGmm30Ww7k4FqKbmi_2oFfVvvm_wW0FRo1TaB_5lGC7CiS5jmmD1DQRk/s320/Notmy+with+rope.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She has some sharp little fangs</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It took us two weeks to convince PJ she’s a keeper. Now they are best friends.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hobbies include: Drinking milk, befriending customers in return for food, Stalking PJ around the shop, fighting with Boomer (Steve Vincent’s puppy), playing with ropes, and cleaning herself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We will get her diving soon; we’re just looking for the right wet suit!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have the regulator and wet suit we’re looking for please mail to:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Notmy Effing Cat <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Under the deck<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Cindy’s Place<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Roatan, Honduras C.A.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other shop news, Mark Walch has joined us from Austria to start his <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/divemaster.html">PADI Divemaster</a> training. He was last here in June 2011 when he completed his <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/open-water-diver.html">PADI Open Water</a>, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/advanced-open-water-diver.html">Advanced Open Water</a>, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/emergency-first-response.html">Emergency First Response</a>, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/rescue-diver.html">Rescue</a>, and <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/specialty/enriched-air-diver-nitrox.html">Nitrox</a> certifications. He hopes to find a Sea walnut (a type of comb jelly) in the upcoming weeks. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IvZC10nbqC9nkjxn4A_nsDCTcBYI2F91Kb375aDeBdZjO8dczPlt3vrucndNe_nZmZIzOU9foDjPbpHHvPY61PLnyXFsf0CNSpKNmhEl5gDlR3JqsKfDsIpJXY4LfeaOrHpDwObkTjY/s1600/Chef+Marco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7IvZC10nbqC9nkjxn4A_nsDCTcBYI2F91Kb375aDeBdZjO8dczPlt3vrucndNe_nZmZIzOU9foDjPbpHHvPY61PLnyXFsf0CNSpKNmhEl5gDlR3JqsKfDsIpJXY4LfeaOrHpDwObkTjY/s320/Chef+Marco.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chef Marco, underwater croissant maker</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Zach Durden has joined us from Florida to complete his </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/open-water-diver.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PADI Open Water</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> to </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/idc-open-water-scuba-instructor.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Instructor</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> certifications (zero to hero!). He dove for the first time on Saturday and loved it.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Diego (left) with Zack ("scarface") on second confined dive</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our boat </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/boats.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Potlicker </a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will be at the dry dock next week for some love, attention, and a new coat of paint. Don’t panic, we will still be diving off our other boat </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/boats.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Wish U Were Here</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">. The water is still warm (29°C/ 84°F) so </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">come join us</a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for some more awesome diving!</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkUmabqgfwPQFXNwpLUw06l6C9hj0L9FcckBMaLj-gRrHiQDLxzb70CRresI23LANk8KI0UN74z2Uz6nKvtW7HUwDviHql7K44Afcr21IP7aIYt_xlD8WY1QeC1fhdtiBiUvq1WLZwlw/s1600/Potlicker+Dry+dock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFkUmabqgfwPQFXNwpLUw06l6C9hj0L9FcckBMaLj-gRrHiQDLxzb70CRresI23LANk8KI0UN74z2Uz6nKvtW7HUwDviHql7K44Afcr21IP7aIYt_xlD8WY1QeC1fhdtiBiUvq1WLZwlw/s320/Potlicker+Dry+dock.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">by Kaela Watkins</span></div>
CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-20581551037627790902012-10-06T11:09:00.000-07:002012-10-06T11:09:36.083-07:00Got any plans this winter?<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Steve Jobs (The King of Apples) once said in 1996 "Good artists copy, and great artists steal". So I have drawn inspiration from a dive instructor friend in Cozumel for the following Winter Special at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a>.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Is THIS going to be YOUR winter?</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjf0e6MKk-Vy-PvkbVRyN07g7n_PTFiZ67iMLH9kMFnUu9nNTyKUFGq0wMw2Rr-TFzA_UMs6aOB7-P3ELns8llUIh6xoCPOSap8SOszocqcRnGY4j0Pn53DPygwvCVsF171mqqBpKs4E/s1600/ICE-Truck-X-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvjf0e6MKk-Vy-PvkbVRyN07g7n_PTFiZ67iMLH9kMFnUu9nNTyKUFGq0wMw2Rr-TFzA_UMs6aOB7-P3ELns8llUIh6xoCPOSap8SOszocqcRnGY4j0Pn53DPygwvCVsF171mqqBpKs4E/s320/ICE-Truck-X-2.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Too much snow?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPpR-DD3EhBaKnn3v09UMWya5H6-VD2PetyAQCefykxgzSho2emzETHvw8MXul_JFuiYXO5f96JkZepAMm87fmBTPWMx0k79fuXCib51A9WXpJwAfYDbYnbeLOxTxiPyjYIsko5ZU8h4/s1600/winter.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbPpR-DD3EhBaKnn3v09UMWya5H6-VD2PetyAQCefykxgzSho2emzETHvw8MXul_JFuiYXO5f96JkZepAMm87fmBTPWMx0k79fuXCib51A9WXpJwAfYDbYnbeLOxTxiPyjYIsko5ZU8h4/s320/winter.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Drive to work</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEerL9RcozUXSZfyL5wImkhYULHA0zAweCr6HHLRehdRsWbhgjIhm6v0rphGvD_wEpemGif3eSIbB2yr2c7xgHojyaeSlc9H8RVj5LGkIoABKaKippUZAnllfEk3xH0WlZ2Xdiha9-_0/s1600/snowstormpic-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkEerL9RcozUXSZfyL5wImkhYULHA0zAweCr6HHLRehdRsWbhgjIhm6v0rphGvD_wEpemGif3eSIbB2yr2c7xgHojyaeSlc9H8RVj5LGkIoABKaKippUZAnllfEk3xH0WlZ2Xdiha9-_0/s320/snowstormpic-2.jpeg" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Where is your car?</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It doesn't have to be!!!</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you're wanting to escape any of the above winter prospects, here at Coconut Tree Divers we offer you a 100% NO-SNOW GUARANTEE. If it snows on the island when you're on your dive vacation = money back guaranteed! Rainy season is a great time to come, the dive boats are not usually busy outside of the holiday seasons, and the diving is always good - north or south shore.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In addition to this we are offering a special promotion. For reservations for <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/diving.html">dive packages</a> or <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses.html">PADI dive courses</a> between now and February 1st 2013, get a chance to win a FREE T-shirt on arrival, if you're the first person to quote our special promotional code <b>NOSNOWRTB</b> in your reservation! <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">Contact us</a> today to make it happen!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Sunny, very calm seas. Better than yesterday!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxKAqT9kZtiZ0mkZmFu06FIY1mui5xc1CfgSjduxOIzJTCi-w_vr6cdOrynDOTh4q7IoM1mZ0evaq2LMbmWlOOUtc_eExwED9www54eSVH_hlRbd2WYrKNmJloL5zWiLViR1DHSc_v2Y/s1600/seahorse.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHxKAqT9kZtiZ0mkZmFu06FIY1mui5xc1CfgSjduxOIzJTCi-w_vr6cdOrynDOTh4q7IoM1mZ0evaq2LMbmWlOOUtc_eExwED9www54eSVH_hlRbd2WYrKNmJloL5zWiLViR1DHSc_v2Y/s320/seahorse.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; text-align: center;">Seahorse @ Mandy's Eel Garden</td></tr>
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<tr><td><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ujS0eCQqDlfbeSAmr7LFZPjo42cyTdhPRNTZfozDyOvbcQqBaNpHFFs35VTg9Et2aA-KCqFJUy4HAP2_hNJBuUQaGI1jEZo2Qnq4Cq_U1yhAIH7vpyb5eA6zHvXyN5E1On56-WQY4b0/s1600/neck.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="278" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_ujS0eCQqDlfbeSAmr7LFZPjo42cyTdhPRNTZfozDyOvbcQqBaNpHFFs35VTg9Et2aA-KCqFJUy4HAP2_hNJBuUQaGI1jEZo2Qnq4Cq_U1yhAIH7vpyb5eA6zHvXyN5E1On56-WQY4b0/s320/neck.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px;">Neck crabs @ Everywhere (if you know where to look!)</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7gZZFK2FXoVwe6uvKbNES_VwHd5JFno7IKtx1-DvFVeFVR7B7UnU8LH_E2CriDrrbX3NKz9hLMKwLfSkfJLX4nenXxQ9m84DvOenF7QH2ubytWsz9Fc806TJCnqjTZNXWocjpAxE0ps/s1600/slug.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJ7gZZFK2FXoVwe6uvKbNES_VwHd5JFno7IKtx1-DvFVeFVR7B7UnU8LH_E2CriDrrbX3NKz9hLMKwLfSkfJLX4nenXxQ9m84DvOenF7QH2ubytWsz9Fc806TJCnqjTZNXWocjpAxE0ps/s320/slug.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13.333333015441895px; text-align: center;">Hanging Lettuce Sea Slug @ Hole In The Wall</td></tr>
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CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-6800643665886028952012-10-04T12:39:00.000-07:002012-10-04T12:41:46.569-07:00Akona Caicos Mask<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7A07UKvn2xrPc9HZMsGnDC9Ub_Nc6UmZmdUzQ4DchkqRX-RKeNGuyXsM6rWPPKKU7q5iIbpjisi_YZhY5Mpf0FmvMqYvdFf2sGfnxQJtIXCltrWrFZycAiPYhfFNjp9VxLYRtbCsP9hw/s1600/AKNMC_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7A07UKvn2xrPc9HZMsGnDC9Ub_Nc6UmZmdUzQ4DchkqRX-RKeNGuyXsM6rWPPKKU7q5iIbpjisi_YZhY5Mpf0FmvMqYvdFf2sGfnxQJtIXCltrWrFZycAiPYhfFNjp9VxLYRtbCsP9hw/s1600/AKNMC_2.jpg" /></a>This is the mask Coconut Tree Divers uses as a rental. It is an excellent entry level choice. Really, you could just skip the mention of entry level all together and say it is a good reliable mask. <a href="http://www.leisurepro.com/Prod/AKNMC.html">LeisurePro</a> sells them for about $20.00. With all the different types of people that come into <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a> it is hard to find a one size fits all mask. This one has come up real close to fitting the bill. <br />
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If you are in the market for a new one, do not feel as though the more money you spend the better the mask. There is no direct correlation regarding more expensive = better mask at all. Read prior reviews on this blog as that has been debunked through hours of underwater use. The Oceanic Pioneer is a prime example as is the Oceanic Shadow, expensive and comfortable but not built to last. Yeah I did just use that line. </div>
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Rental gear at our shop is used and abused. Not by all customers, but indeed by some. Kind of like the people who rent cars and run them to the ground. If it does not belong to them, some simply throw things around with little regard to their function or that other people will be using them. Case and point for the Akona Caicos mask. With all the abuse they receive through our shop, they are still providing divers hours of viewing pleasure and comfort. </div>
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As with most new masks, remember to clear off the coating manufacturers put on them to keep them from scracthing. You need to get that off to help prevent your mask from fogging up. Use a lighter to burn it off, provided it is tempered glass. They usually read Tempered or have a letter T to signify that. You can also use <a href="http://www.softscrub.com/">SoftScrub</a>, which is used to clean tiles. When we introduce new masks here at the shop both methods are incorporated. We burn the inside of the lenses with a lighter, rinse them and follow up with a vigorous scubbing with SoftScrub. </div>
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Hope that helps. </div>
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Due to suggestions provided by websitegrader.com we are incorporating the Coconut Tree Telegraph blog and the DiveGearReview blog into one. We have also recruited to new writers, Diego and Kaela. They are both doing their PADI Divemaster training here with us and have long ties to Roatan, West End and ultimately to Coconut Tree Divers. </div>
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Should you have any questions, feel free to <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">contact us</a>. </div>
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And by all means, if you enjoy the blog sign up. Have a great day!</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01983467348366684012noreply@blogger.com0Coconut Tree Divers16.305741794197704 -86.5928730368614216.305622794197703 -86.593027036861415 16.305860794197706 -86.592719036861425tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-80750367348970488222012-09-21T13:56:00.000-07:002012-09-21T13:56:22.316-07:00Coconut Tree Front Porch Social ClubNeed somewhere to park your husband while you finish up your <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/open-water-diver.html">PADI Open Water</a> course or go and catch some rays on one of Roatan's beautiful beaches? No worries, we've got you covered here at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.comabout/contact-us.html">Coconut Tree Divers</a>, with our all-new front porch social club. Leave him there and he'll be entertained with hours of people-watching, motorbikes, NASCAR and football.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa1ralNSG8WvCi-TvRJz7ehbRp7rOI6qaULnZDIuvuivCQJbqlfWTQJD7vbc77T17WyBPhXSYxoZxPgjMHczWSHbPuvONb3zjqlpE23XXnwK8TxQxqDnv6jVfCfMGWYfjd8gCFcHLf2Q/s1600/IMG_1416.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNa1ralNSG8WvCi-TvRJz7ehbRp7rOI6qaULnZDIuvuivCQJbqlfWTQJD7vbc77T17WyBPhXSYxoZxPgjMHczWSHbPuvONb3zjqlpE23XXnwK8TxQxqDnv6jVfCfMGWYfjd8gCFcHLf2Q/s320/IMG_1416.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Joey, Tree, Tim and PJ - free seating.</td></tr>
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<b>Recent Sightings</b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKmNP9lS9kRxam9wp3cm_3p-0dlGh4qCy3P9ljjdrT_wETQAkR2At7jrYnxAe8YIBrh1acI2j2yYsAm59c-eYP9Rt3cCELsf5fQuv_IIk_Ce0S1fBiUYF49ueEoU67-dtXSXm0MisfrI/s1600/pipe.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="226" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizKmNP9lS9kRxam9wp3cm_3p-0dlGh4qCy3P9ljjdrT_wETQAkR2At7jrYnxAe8YIBrh1acI2j2yYsAm59c-eYP9Rt3cCELsf5fQuv_IIk_Ce0S1fBiUYF49ueEoU67-dtXSXm0MisfrI/s320/pipe.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pipehorse @ Moonlight</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHNTjZ4srYmN0s38nFuUUubXsIQmj2aU7Ej3Mp0oRTMB7HLDcatm_law_qDruWlq25nTmqrOqlgGrBeJCclHtNbz8Nj2uK0rzFPlPicJVQxnBU92btHqPaJ-HQxPDOjg1lK7OvOBWAw8/s1600/slug.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtHNTjZ4srYmN0s38nFuUUubXsIQmj2aU7Ej3Mp0oRTMB7HLDcatm_law_qDruWlq25nTmqrOqlgGrBeJCclHtNbz8Nj2uK0rzFPlPicJVQxnBU92btHqPaJ-HQxPDOjg1lK7OvOBWAw8/s320/slug.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lettuce Sea Slug @ Hole In The Wall</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbpj9_Dvsq5r3BdqlMnhjiESCvmGTC3hGF0z7XxxS-KEcElWa3-Tq4FdkwML0wvCV5M_lPgngu8bhIaOBsvKxTaeqLezQNFclnWig29ydDLmukUfk_9_x50EYDEn2fYv59pvTCwNt9JY/s1600/sole.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipbpj9_Dvsq5r3BdqlMnhjiESCvmGTC3hGF0z7XxxS-KEcElWa3-Tq4FdkwML0wvCV5M_lPgngu8bhIaOBsvKxTaeqLezQNFclnWig29ydDLmukUfk_9_x50EYDEn2fYv59pvTCwNt9JY/s320/sole.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Line Sole @ Moonlight</td></tr>
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<br /><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b><div>
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More sweat, calm seas, excellent diving.</div>
CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-42043462667837163412012-09-20T09:02:00.000-07:002012-09-20T09:02:04.033-07:00September 2012And....all of a sudden, it's September again. Honduran Independence Day, the West End Carnival and the <a href="http://roatanfishingtournament.com/">Roatan Fishing Tournament</a> are all out of the way - and now we're quiet again.<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjCLKhCWEA52Wi3vDcR77D7eQ8_IAQjb7QGaDtY_2j8UbyLhDCs-Sc9CjX3RKPTTa8IYTs6idnHR7qhL3rD8tEk8y8PZIbruOnYt6xWJo8x0OawOtXuAmnXrJX3kBnAufggS32s-ufts/s1600/road.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfjCLKhCWEA52Wi3vDcR77D7eQ8_IAQjb7QGaDtY_2j8UbyLhDCs-Sc9CjX3RKPTTa8IYTs6idnHR7qhL3rD8tEk8y8PZIbruOnYt6xWJo8x0OawOtXuAmnXrJX3kBnAufggS32s-ufts/s320/road.jpeg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New road and fishing tournament stage</td></tr>
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If you're considering a dive vacation with generally good weather at a quiet time of year, late August and early September are an excellent time to come. It's considered "shoulder season" with lower flight prices, and as we usually get bypassed by most hurricane tracks, the risk is fairly low. Just ask our "August/September posse" of return customers: The Kearneys from California, Emily (no Janice this year) from California, Steve from Florida, Carin from Chicago, Alex and Ron from Baltimore...Calm water, hot weather, so much stuff to see in the water - what more could you ask for?? Recent sightings (and this is just the surface!) have included whale sharks, a silke shark and pods of dolphins!!</div>
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In other Coconut Tree/West End news, the infamous never-ending road project has ended, the road has been paved and will be "officially opened" on the 29th of this month. Island Concrete actually did a nice job, and the road looks much better than anyone thought it would.</div>
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Long time instructor Jose Silva has also left our shores in search of new dive sites out in Hawaii (no worries for the Jose fans, he'll be back at some point!). <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/dsat-tec-40.html">DSAT Tec</a> and <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/sidemount.html">Sidemount</a> Intstructor Monty Graham is currently lowering his body temperature in Canada, and set to return in the new year (so hold off on your <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/dsat-tec-40.html">Tec</a> until then!). A return addition to our team is Matt Howell, who has returned from construction and riding motorbikes in Florida.</div>
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We also have a new addition to the Coconut Tree Jr family, with Christine and Marco's small one - William Alexander Alvarado born on 7th September (see <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Tree-Divers-Go-Pro-Caribbean/185847079838">our Facebook page</a> for photos!)</div>
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If you've been diving with us recently, it's likely that there are photos of you somewhere on our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Tree-Divers-Go-Pro-Caribbean/185847079838">Facebook page</a>...feel free to tag yourself and use the photos, we keep it up to date on a daily basis (but please join our page and the blog, or <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">contact us</a>!)</div>
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<b>Recent Sightings</b></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Flamingo Tongue @ Blue Channel</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pea</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Seahorse @ Mandy's Eel Garden</td></tr>
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And lastly....What am I holding up? ID it by commenting on this post, or on the photo on Facebook and win a free dive!<div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">What is it??</td></tr>
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<b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b><div>
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Awesome, hot and why are you not diving???<br /><div>
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CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0W End Rd, West End, Hondúras16.305823 -86.594320314.3456935 -89.1211758 18.2659525 -84.06746480000001tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-86292161206507147102012-07-26T09:58:00.001-07:002012-07-26T09:58:22.776-07:00Top 5 Underwater Photography Tips<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now many of us like to take our cameras and housings on dives to take photos of all the wonderful things we see. We see a variety of different systems, from little compact point and shoot cameras to large SLR systems with multiple strobes. No matter what you have, here are 5 top tips for photographers as suggested by Tree, our former in-house photographer.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before you even touch the camera...Buoyancy</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Before we're even looking at the camera, buoyancy control is the number one thing you will need to master. If your buoyancy is off, you will have a hard time getting the camera to stay where you want it to be pointing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Solution: practice buoyancy control in shallow water with your camera e.g. taking pictures of fixed objects from various distances without touching the bottom, holding the camera as still as possible. Examine your results afterwards to see what improved and what didn't. If your buoyancy needs more work than that, we offer the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/specialty/peak-performance-buoyancy.html">PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy specialty</a>, where you spend two dives REALLY fine-tuning your buoyancy control.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJa5FuemXhoackPuWXfE4p2-fzsMrmy63LwuwA0b-QOlHa86kRpSRbvAh4vSjz-uRRPkYNv8Fa8e72Xp3QEVvTZGaoFl2nS2IeOW-46FjwgMKf38jK5A1ZGSj81wTs_ABc6JjQOEzwLo/s1600/photo4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinJa5FuemXhoackPuWXfE4p2-fzsMrmy63LwuwA0b-QOlHa86kRpSRbvAh4vSjz-uRRPkYNv8Fa8e72Xp3QEVvTZGaoFl2nS2IeOW-46FjwgMKf38jK5A1ZGSj81wTs_ABc6JjQOEzwLo/s320/photo4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Camera Controls</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you are using anything more powerful than the most basic point and shoot, one of the first things to master is your camera controls. For different types of photo, you will undoubtedly be switching between modes on the camera - using different settings. Ideally, you should be able to switch between the modes that you use blindfolded. Why? Imagine this: you have just been taking a macro shot of a very small pederson cleaner shrimp, when you back away from the reef and turn around, you are faced with a spotted eagle ray cruising by...Better be quick on those settings!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understanding Exposure: White Balance and strobes</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Colour at depth. You may remember the colour comparison exercise from your <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/advanced-open-water-diver.html">PADI Advanced Open Water</a> deep dive - you lose colour with depth. That's why many people's underwater photos have that blue/green cast…White balance is your solution! The other way to overcome this problem is of course to use strobes, but that isn't always an option (depending on your camera/luggage allowance/budget). At the very least, having the option to set custom white balance on your camera is a MUST if you're intending to capture the best of our reef.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Understanding Exposure: Depth of Field and ISO</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Having a basic understanding of some photographic principles will help you get the most out of your shots, rather than just leaving your camera fully automatic. <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/specialty/digital-underwater-photographer.html">The PADI Digital Underwater Photographer</a> course that we offer teaches you some of the theory behind some of these concepts. When you understand those, you will start to take photos on different settings - and you will start to get results. Digital cameras actually record all this information (EXIF data) so you can actually check what settings you used to take the photo. Essential for knowing what works and what doesn't</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And finally...Practice!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Take photos, take more photos and take more photos again! Keep taking photos, and you will start getting some serious results!!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Destroyer of Conch is watching YOU!</td></tr>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half Moon Bay Weather Report</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot and humid, with a hint of a breeze.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent Sightings</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seahorse @ Dixies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Leopard Flatworm @ El Aquario (Deep)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pea (Post-larval trunkfish) @ Overheat Reef (and various other places)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4 Spotted Eagle Rays together!!! @ Seaquest (Deep)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS: Join the blog if you are reading this page!</span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0West End, Hondúras16.305823 -86.594320316.2906655 -86.6140613 16.3209805 -86.574579300000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-78189147397493606272012-07-22T10:35:00.004-07:002012-07-22T10:35:37.980-07:00Where's my manners?<br />
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As with any activity that involves other people there's always an element of etiquette in diving, whether it's on the boat or underwater, that is one of the things that sets apart the experienced diver from the novice. Some of these things are not exactly written in stone (and by "stone" I mean the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/open-water-diver.html">PADI Open Water</a> manual!), but rather things you learn from experience by expanding your scuba diving experience.</div>
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Here are 5 top tips that will enhance your diving experience here at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a>! Can YOU come up with any more? <i> Leave us a comment!</i></div>
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<b>Island time and the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/diving/schedule.html">boat schedule</a></b></div>
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We may be on a Caribbean island where the pace definitely isn't as hectic as elsewhere, but there's one thing that operates like clockwork: our boat schedule. It's designed for you guys to get the most out of your dives, but it only really works if we leave on time! Give yourself plenty of time to grab your free coffee, get your equipment set up without feeling rushed - it only makes for a better, more relaxed dive.</div>
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<b>Where's my fins??</b></div>
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We keep our groups small, so you're not gonna be crowded underwater, but you are sharing the boat with other divers. Try to keep your equipment spread to a minimum, that way you also know where all your stuff is. You wouldn't want to miss jumping in with your snorkel gear when we have dolphins swimming with our boat just because you can't find your mask!</div>
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<b>Soap in the bucket</b></div>
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For those of you that like snapping shots during your dive, we have a fresh water bucket for you to store your camera between dives. The most important thing with the bucket is to make sure that the water stays fresh - we don't want any chemicals or anti-fog agents in the bucket. The reason is that those chemicals can compromise the o-rings in the camera housings. If you are going to rinse your mask on the boat, we provide a scoop so you can scoop the water out away from the bucket.</div>
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<b>Brief me!</b></div>
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We try to tailor our dives so that divers with similar experience levels are matched up to hit the best dive sites for your level as a diver (more information on our <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/diving/schedule.html">daily dive schedule</a> can be found <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/diving/schedule.html">here</a>). If you are a more experienced diver, we don't believe in "babysitting" you, but if you are a little unsure of your self we will make sure that you are more closely supervised. The main thing is that all that kind of information is always given in our thorough pre-dive briefings - make sure you pay attention It's all about your safety (safety first!) and your enjoyment. We want you to get what you want out of your dives!</div>
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<b>THIS is a <a href="http://www.roatanmarinepark.com/">Marine Park</a></b></div>
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After all, you're here to dive, so we want you to enjoy it. Follow the dive plan, get to know your dive buddy (we will always supply you with one, no worries about travelling alone!), and follow the marine park protocols. Take only pictures, leave only bubbles, touch only with your eyes! If we're looking at the more macro aspects of the reef (ie something really really small and really really cool!) be nice, and point it out to the person coming up behind you, we want all of you to see it!</div>
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<b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></div>
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A collection of flamingo tongues @ Blue Channel</div>
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<br /></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0West End, Hondúras16.305823 -86.594320316.2906655 -86.6140613 16.3209805 -86.574579300000011tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-60821475295626416012012-07-20T13:29:00.001-07:002012-07-20T13:29:06.309-07:00Like us on Facebook, Follow us on Twitter....and Join the Blog!<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><b>Like, Follow, Join (Facebook, Twitter, Blog)</b></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">As you can no doubt see, we have launched our new </span><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/" style="background-color: white;">website</a><span style="background-color: white;">, which also has a direct link to this blog (which is being gradually improved as you read). The whole site was redesigned from scratch and all the content has been updated to reflect what is actually going on, as well as all the standards and prices for all our <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses.html">PADI Courses</a> and <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro.html">DSAT Tec Courses</a>. Don't hesitate to <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/about/contact-us.html">contact us</a> with any questions you might have.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">In other social media, you can find us on </span><a href="https://twitter.com/CoconuTreeDiver" style="background-color: white;">Twitter</a><span style="background-color: white;"> (@CoconuTreeDiver) where Marco will keep you updated on everything from the day's dives to the progress of the West End Road Project! Our <a href="https://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Tree-Divers-Go-Pro-Caribbean/185847079838">Facebook</a> page (Coconut Tree Divers & Go Pro Caribbean) has also grown enormously - this is where we post our photos and videos from dives regularly. If you are reading this post join the blog, we need more followers! Reviews on <a href="http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g303875-d1048078-Reviews-Coconut_Tree_Divers-West_End_Roatan_Bay_Islands.html">TripAdvisor</a> have also played a huge part in helping us improve our shop. If you haven't already, write us a review (we don't want West End Divers to catch up!) and tell the world what you liked best about diving with Coconut Tree Divers.</span></div>
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<b>Shop News</b></div>
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Wetsuits and fins have been reorganised in anticipation of a stock take.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">If you've done your <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/advanced-open-water-diver.html">PADI Advanced Open Water</a> with us, it's likely that you've swam through our hula-hoops </span><span style="background-color: white;">(or attempted to!) f</span><span style="background-color: white;">or swimthrough/efficient fin kick training. Well now, </span><span style="background-color: white;">Tree has built us a beautiful new PVC ring for our <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/specialty/peak-performance-buoyancy.html">PADI Peak Performance Buoyancy</a> dives.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Monty has just started a <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/go-pro/dsat-trimix-65.html">DSAT Trimix</a> course with former DMTs Toby and Katy (Air Sucks, Trimix Rocks!).</span></div>
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<b>Recent Sightings</b></div>
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Pipehorse @ Blue Channel</div>
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Spotted Eagle Rays @ Gibson Bight</div>
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Spotted Eagle Rays @ Lighthouse Reef</div>
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Leopard Flatworm @ Half Moon Bay Wall</div>
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Hammerhead @ Texas</div>
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Gaudy Clown Crab @ Gibson Bight</div>
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<b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></div>
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Seriously hot, seriously humid. Night Rain.</div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0W End Rd, West End, Hondúras16.305823 -86.59432038.3687985 -96.7017423 24.2428475 -76.486898300000007tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-49081453480894084102012-05-13T10:59:00.004-07:002012-05-13T10:59:42.160-07:00Dive Gear, Review, Puppy Weight<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you have been diving, or thought about diving, you will presumably at least have thought about dive equipment. At first, it can seem a bit daunting to think about investing getting ALL your own equipment. But after all is said and done, the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/rec">PADI</a> videos don't lie (remember your <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/2">Open Water</a> Course), you really are more likely to dive more if you have your own equipment.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Most people might not choose to get "everything" at once. Maybe a mask (it's not much fun if your mask doesn't fit properly) to start with, perhaps a pair of fins - maybe even a dive computer (easy to travel with). There certainly are a lot of options out there, which could also seem confusing at times, and there are a lot of different things to think about when deciding exactly what equipment to get. Magazines, reviews, online forums, local dive shop, online dive retailers, dive instructors and of course actually trying the equipment for yourself are all different sources that can help you find what you need-slash-want on every budget. The big question is, how can you trust the reliability of some of those sources? Have they actually tested the equipment beyond taking it out in the pool for a few laps?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our sister blog, <a href="http://divegearreview.blogspot.com/">Dive Gear Review</a>, is dedicated to providing such advice. We are reviewing equipment that we use on a daily and regular basis, and giving honest feedback based on literally thousands of hours in the water. The 700+ dives and confined water dives that we do in a year put our equipment through some serious use, so we are always looking for something that will last the distance. Being on a remote tropical island with limited on-site retail options is also a factor; we also want equipment that can be serviced easily and at a reasonable cost. So if you're thinking about it, check out <a href="http://divegearreview.blogspot.com/">Dive Gear Review</a>. And lastly, don't let anyone talk you into buying something that isn't right for YOU.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In other news: in addition to the standard lead blocks (lbs or kg) we provide you with for your weight belt/integrated BCD system, we now also offer weights in "puppy" increments (changes week to week). </span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Chucky's new friend Boomer (currently interviewing for Rescue Victim)</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the many things that were brought around the birthday party, captains Carl and Fred are now sporting these awesome Captain's hats - thank you to Daniel Magine from Chicago.</span><div>
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</div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-53348867987624448242012-05-09T15:49:00.005-07:002012-05-09T15:49:57.582-07:00Hot In Half Moon Bay<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the aftermath of the dive shop anniversary, it can happen that things slow down a bit in the shop….Not this year! Every morning this week has seen our two boats - Potlicker and Wish U Were Here - go out for two tank dives. Potlicker has been filled with about 60 to 80% return customers. Wish U Were Here is operating on a separate schedule to accommodate a group of 9 ski patrollers and kayak guides from Colorado, on their "spring escape".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some of the return customers, Kevin and Frances Bugbee, a couple from Boston who come to <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree</a> on a yearly basis brought an interesting display item for the shop. It turns out that we were featured in a "things to do in Boston" publication called <a href="http://www.improper.com/">The Improper Bostonian</a>…Not that we are in Boston or the North East, but we are definitely a "thing to do". If you saw us featured, leave a comment!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On another note, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree</a> and the <a href="http://www.caribbeansidemountdiving.com/">Roatan Tec Team</a> welcome a group of Tec divers and Instructors from <a href="http://www.utiladivecenter.com/">Utila Dive Center</a>, who have planned an epic Tec dive to 400ft scheduled for tomorrow afternoon - check our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Tree-Divers-Go-Pro-Caribbean/185847079838">Coconut Tree Divers and Go Pro Caribbean</a> Facebook Page for photos and details to follow.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Octopus @ Hole In The Wall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Pipehorse @ Blue Channel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Many many Juvenile Spotted Drum @ all over the Northern Marine Park</span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-53036194552186000402012-05-08T07:57:00.003-07:002012-05-08T07:58:59.202-07:00The Adventures of Chucky<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those of you who have done a <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/6">Rescue Diver</a> course with us in the last few years will be familiar with "Chucky". For those of you who haven't taken that step (yet) Chucky, originally from Kazakhstan, washed up on the beach at Half Moon Bay during Hurricane Wilma in 2005. Lost and alone, he was rescued by the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree Divers</a> crew. Far away from home (and broke), PJ took pity on him and gave him a job as an assistant on the Rescue Diver course. He isn't actually very good at it i.e. gets lost repeatedly, only to be found again somewhere on the reef by a succession of different rescue students. Given all this, some people are surprised that PJ actually still lets him dive with us...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After 4 years, he has settled in quite well (he even started getting some of his own equipment - mask and weight belt). These days, after work, he can be found enjoying his favourite drink at The Bar at Coconut Tree Restaurant with the rest of the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/members/crew">crew</a>.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXfjXQy8k2tKcvy4jL1QVLtiXbss3IWusikdS9PHnJO1UKUw9iNF6hyhKWCfFdE0k_Geu1DjfIYLU0x1urqJYQBlmVMHhPBrdcxyIghKSF0ln4D4g03X24oQPRYcg32BZBotAOcIdg68/s1600/IMG_1265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpXfjXQy8k2tKcvy4jL1QVLtiXbss3IWusikdS9PHnJO1UKUw9iNF6hyhKWCfFdE0k_Geu1DjfIYLU0x1urqJYQBlmVMHhPBrdcxyIghKSF0ln4D4g03X24oQPRYcg32BZBotAOcIdg68/s320/IMG_1265.JPG" width="320" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Johnnie Walker Black Label</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b>: when are we getting A/C on the dock?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b>: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seahorse @ Jolly Roger</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Freeswimming Green Moray Eel @ Overheat Reef</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Black Spotted Nudibranch @ Pillar Coral</span></div>
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<br /></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-27206516707804879952012-04-25T09:37:00.001-07:002012-04-25T09:37:09.843-07:0010th Birthday Party<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As every year, April 20th saw the return of "The Birthday Party" (4/20). This year, as always, was a huge success. It was especially special as it was the 10th anniversary...one whole decade of Coconut Tree Divers.</span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Our boats have been quite full with many divers and courses for the last two weeks. With all the visitors being enthusiastic divers, we had both boats going out most mornings, and some afternoons as well. After the party we hit a spell of bad weather, which forced us to the South Side for a few days (a rarity in April), but we are now back on our usual schedule - two boats again this afternoon!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We would like to thank everyone who came to the party and made it the occasion that it was, especially to those of you that came from various far-flung corners of the world. The combination of a bright sunny day, calm seas, a mountain of floaty toys, 20 gallons of punch, 700 cans of beer, 70 pounds of shrimp, steak and chicken cooking all afternoon, two pinatas, beer frisbee really made for quite some party!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Particular thanks to Ron and Alex from Baltimore for bringing the CTD 10th Anniversary custom t-shirts and sunglasses, Daniel and Gina from Chicago for the wristbands, Keith Woods and Gay for preparing all the delicious food (steak and shrimp!), Lou and Tina for setting up the sound system, and Marco and the beer kitty for the addition of the birthday banner. Last and most of all, thank you from all of us to PJ, Gay (and Mr Vincent Bush of the Coconut Tree complex) for making all this possible.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">For those of you that were not able to make it (this year) - here are some highlights!</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRZEiVQfHoL-GlUlfvud35UbOmJrdmW3GZcZxY-lLaLEXgvG5IGal0oAZ9ttXKEtPpPVVWLtXKoWROWCRWr7eGSTQvClwna5zPMCyfpxCyXjHFYbjdyXP0tCKiCcZrn52c5zFec0-Koc/s1600/party01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJRZEiVQfHoL-GlUlfvud35UbOmJrdmW3GZcZxY-lLaLEXgvG5IGal0oAZ9ttXKEtPpPVVWLtXKoWROWCRWr7eGSTQvClwna5zPMCyfpxCyXjHFYbjdyXP0tCKiCcZrn52c5zFec0-Koc/s320/party01.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Time Flies When You're Having Rum</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvCGuHi0gaSpxw0n0NSo_PX1bRkgWQfKK0eM0InjRiwvjjcpB4oJOF3ryH6rAmxaovvXR_1B58jznWI6cIlLXmY1Ot316B1rRNG7BqP7A1kuYvMkXBnlSyGEdEK2Hg_6WKeaQ01FerIU/s1600/party02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOvCGuHi0gaSpxw0n0NSo_PX1bRkgWQfKK0eM0InjRiwvjjcpB4oJOF3ryH6rAmxaovvXR_1B58jznWI6cIlLXmY1Ot316B1rRNG7BqP7A1kuYvMkXBnlSyGEdEK2Hg_6WKeaQ01FerIU/s320/party02.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4/20 Merchandise on display!</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AQfO8otiGnA229r8qr_FiGhE9jx9CvhX9oRx8wkJhnl4foxBS073W5f3U8yvtS07srXjQ5T25IzoJWAHLrEhWKKVFur7Mbr2OZGeD8iYZeVo5v1FSgCuqTvDgL9ZM6wv-Ppayqu53zc/s1600/party03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7AQfO8otiGnA229r8qr_FiGhE9jx9CvhX9oRx8wkJhnl4foxBS073W5f3U8yvtS07srXjQ5T25IzoJWAHLrEhWKKVFur7Mbr2OZGeD8iYZeVo5v1FSgCuqTvDgL9ZM6wv-Ppayqu53zc/s320/party03.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_QJ0qCDubj2PU3Fh4WvYYp3KYESYypx0mwSTKmqP_1tKW9djX3dALgL1louDVGCnJDZeuf7MDiOKRlNYSCGDWWlpptUwqISwY7CftANGprKbiz2xeaCwxExAjIUZ3TPMOr3cp9TSx70/s1600/party04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz_QJ0qCDubj2PU3Fh4WvYYp3KYESYypx0mwSTKmqP_1tKW9djX3dALgL1louDVGCnJDZeuf7MDiOKRlNYSCGDWWlpptUwqISwY7CftANGprKbiz2xeaCwxExAjIUZ3TPMOr3cp9TSx70/s320/party04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN09uqo0C-UAzaNviR_0CbgwEdj6or2GOIjy5WEhhCzjkNEcJiK22NYp9WiCRJJl2whYOccc7PaVpdRigtvTbtfptbMFmAccaFHcEjqD7hRORDlxPAzo2nMUM99zycZCpzqFK6TX0XoXw/s1600/party05.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjN09uqo0C-UAzaNviR_0CbgwEdj6or2GOIjy5WEhhCzjkNEcJiK22NYp9WiCRJJl2whYOccc7PaVpdRigtvTbtfptbMFmAccaFHcEjqD7hRORDlxPAzo2nMUM99zycZCpzqFK6TX0XoXw/s320/party05.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Can you find your floaty?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ghXFwIvJwRsRv3FgrqjgFU4T2b4DzehpiniVqZkAaVJn8n_SXQJUkMvAarT-AYUlUxwtBj3oTj0MibvEj2h_wTXL7v-SZgOR6LF2o06CcsR9Q4rMSFBRe_VbV0pHOLdjP5aUcICNIg/s1600/party06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjR6ghXFwIvJwRsRv3FgrqjgFU4T2b4DzehpiniVqZkAaVJn8n_SXQJUkMvAarT-AYUlUxwtBj3oTj0MibvEj2h_wTXL7v-SZgOR6LF2o06CcsR9Q4rMSFBRe_VbV0pHOLdjP5aUcICNIg/s320/party06.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Happy Birthday</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoqX6EzuUNG-nPnVbR75lu5ceDUzt2dViIa3Of4uPyMGPQttXnguNO9E6lLi8K854-luiEMo3dDUfwLazwH4EyGr_0B1GdNSxQdvO0Bt0qGL6DHyCW2Q-SahQwXUp46hkiJrTb7xtAWU/s1600/party07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEoqX6EzuUNG-nPnVbR75lu5ceDUzt2dViIa3Of4uPyMGPQttXnguNO9E6lLi8K854-luiEMo3dDUfwLazwH4EyGr_0B1GdNSxQdvO0Bt0qGL6DHyCW2Q-SahQwXUp46hkiJrTb7xtAWU/s320/party07.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The people who made it all happen</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrDhe8lg1Q7coU7BoZbokEdYHQPolPDyD1lH6jyRZ_OPx5czvCM7abkuZenZJJbQkPX63-o9wjO6xF9dqqNAkpuHxOCxd_hrarfHBfCVDMpTIrTm6BT6C9pEFeAVi_y7xBLO5lwlvoF8/s1600/party08.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIrDhe8lg1Q7coU7BoZbokEdYHQPolPDyD1lH6jyRZ_OPx5czvCM7abkuZenZJJbQkPX63-o9wjO6xF9dqqNAkpuHxOCxd_hrarfHBfCVDMpTIrTm6BT6C9pEFeAVi_y7xBLO5lwlvoF8/s320/party08.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many times can YOU count to 10?</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlysBUCzBBuFcsioXvburCi-yrMRXm_sUCA0dRA7MLQB0WOBySMbasmk_H8uESuW5NGPSMD-CsL-iEdci5GOM1PmoA4-6GXJWgHESRX9MOk2ragL41CKecOsEgnmy4blHN_-8C_X7rDDU/s1600/party09.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlysBUCzBBuFcsioXvburCi-yrMRXm_sUCA0dRA7MLQB0WOBySMbasmk_H8uESuW5NGPSMD-CsL-iEdci5GOM1PmoA4-6GXJWgHESRX9MOk2ragL41CKecOsEgnmy4blHN_-8C_X7rDDU/s320/party09.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sunset</td></tr>
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</div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-54891245537360387932012-04-09T12:04:00.003-07:002012-04-09T12:05:38.781-07:00We're Back!<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After a hiatus on the blog (vacation!)…The Coconut Tree Telegraph is back up and running.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rainy season has been fairly kind to us this year, with a steady stream of divers and students in the shop. Weather disruptions have come and gone, and we have now moved into "Semana Santa Weather" (read: hot, no wind).''</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Over the last few years we have had a number of improvements and expansions to the dive shop. Some of you will already be familiar with some of these, others have been quite recent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 2009, we expanded the deck, and moved the equipment rinse tanks and outside storage area. The compressor also came out of the back room (Tree's office), and moved into its own shed, which has space available for a second compressor. The tanks and the fill station are next to the compressor shed, in their own little cage.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfSTLMtDozHA6vN6ApwWpbcliML12tUXk5jUfyX2w41ORKxKkixQ4fKWPV4dccutCky19Sc78rwJTOv_39LirFTEiaPxscjqWcVAfb2qgOeKy2ZA2D3rY6bCr-wUThmP7kQ_fvVmJ5lI/s1600/IMG_0265.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLfSTLMtDozHA6vN6ApwWpbcliML12tUXk5jUfyX2w41ORKxKkixQ4fKWPV4dccutCky19Sc78rwJTOv_39LirFTEiaPxscjqWcVAfb2qgOeKy2ZA2D3rY6bCr-wUThmP7kQ_fvVmJ5lI/s320/IMG_0265.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We have recently acquired some new Cressi BCDs to add to our equipment selection. There is a comprehensive review of those BCDs and other equipment we use at <a href="http://divegearreview.blogspot.com/2012/02/cressi-aquapro.html">Dive Gear Review</a>. If you're looking to buy some equipment, definitely watch that space for more reviews to come.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Some time ago, we replaced the white "beer cooler" with a proper Salva Vida sponsored refrigerator. We're still keeping them cold for you…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In that same area, we also added a flatscreen TV, where we're displaying photo slideshows, video clips and feedback videos from training courses (check out Monty's helmet cam when you see him!) We also bought a Canon Powershot camera and housing, which is available for rent for USD20 per dive or USD35 for the day. Whether you have your own camera or if you rent one of ours, consider taking the<a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/"> Digital Underwater Photography Specialty</a> to get the most out of your vacation photos!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And on a closing note, as it is April after all….</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">T-11 days (and counting) until the corporate event of the year, the Coconut Tree 10th Anniversary Extravaganza (4/20).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Half Moon Bay Weather report: feelin' hot hot hot, light breeze, clear skies</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recent Sightings:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Eagle Ray @ Lighthouse</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Sea Hare @ Half Moon Bay (confined water)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seahorse @ Blue Channel</span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-54247499233368594402012-02-05T13:30:00.000-08:002012-02-05T13:30:34.157-08:00DMTs, Eagle Rays and Sidemount<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">A</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">s we have wrapped up the first month of 2012, we welcome three more new <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/7">DMTs</a>: Bill from Texas, Len from New York, and Dave from Maine. More coming soon...</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Bill from Texas, as the tattoo indeed confirms</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Dave and Len</span></td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">All three have dived with us on previous occasions here at <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree</a>. If you're looking for an excuse to quit your job, "go on sabbatical" or even just "losing your passport", the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/7">Divemaster Internship</a> might just be the thing for you...</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In the "more coming soon" category, we also welcome Toby and Victoria from Alabama, starting their <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/3">Advanced Open Water</a> course, and going on through to <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/7">Divemaster</a></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Victoria and Toby: Happy Superbowl Sunday - we sold all the squares, mostly to Marco</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">It seems that of late we have been spotting (!) a fair number of Spotted Eagle rays, both out on the reef, and jumping out of the water in Half Moon Bay. As with all marine life, there is some level of seasonal variation in "what we can expect to see". I enlisted the help of our friend <a href="http://www.google.com/">Google</a> to try to find out if there was any particular information on breeding seasons for the eagle ray, but according to <a href="http://www.beautifuloceans.com/creatures/n-to-z/spotted-eagle-ray/224-spotted-eagle-ray-aetobatus-narinari.html">Beautiful Oceans</a>: "</span><span style="color: #333333; font: 12.0px Trebuchet MS;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Unfortunately, little is known about the seasonal timing of reproduction in this species". Check out some eagle ray photos on our <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Coconut-Tree-Divers-Go-Pro-Caribbean">Facebook</a> page. </span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">In other news, Monty has just finished a <a href="http://www.caribbeansidemountdiving.com/">Sidemount</a> course with Constantin and Margarita, and will shortly be starting the <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/te">Tec</a> courses with Darryl.</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">SideMonty!</td></tr>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><a href="http://www.caribbeansidemountdiving.com/">Sidemount diving</a>, a very versatile style of diving, could very well become more mainstream in open water diving (if you dive with us, you will definitely get the chance to see someone diving sidemount). Monty has spent the last few years diving <a href="http://www.caribbeansidemountdiving.com/">sidemount</a> in a variety of different situations, always fine tuning and tweaking things along the way, in order to know as much about it as possible and perfect all the techniques. If you are interested in trying Sidemount diving or completing the <a href="http://www.caribbeansidemountdiving.com/">Sidemount course</a>, <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/contact">contact us</a>!</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Recent Sightings</b></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">More Spotted Eagle Rays @ various different dive sites, almost daily</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7 Southern Stingrays @ Tabyana</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b></span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS'; font-size: small;">Sunny and hot with ephemeral rain showers, humid, with some mud drainage required outside the shop. Flat Calm seas.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-80379873434773183942012-01-28T08:53:00.000-08:002012-01-28T08:53:12.134-08:00In Other News Around The Shop…<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We now have the new Roatan Marine Park bracelets for 2012 (red), and also the new Marine Park calendar.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Beer O'Clock (after the last boat comes in): for the past few months we have been buying cans of Salva Vida from the supermarkets, as they were undercutting the bottle delivery service by quite a substantial amount. Now that the offer has expired, we are back on bottles (hurray for the Port Royal drinkers out there!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The extensive West End road works are, for the most part, no longer directly in front of the shop. I did say, for the most part…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also, the hand-painted island map (art by <a href="http://www.kroosart.com/home.html">Brett Kroos</a>) is being retouched and revarnished….Watch this space…</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The tank path is clear...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The DMT board is also looking quite full again - Katy is leading dives and becoming a highly competent <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/7">Divemaster</a>, Ty and Bob are on their fourth day of training. If Marco's wishes come true, this board should soon be an interactive touch screen!</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Think "Minority Report"...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The deconstruction of the double-decker dock. (didn't there used to be something between us and Sundowners?)</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAIlkdyRmki75WC2Lh5-f-AQ7qcgmkZ9dafJ1Q8TnODH4yacq8F77m5lGnALN9vpg7CbBlR2eGdmiHwwK9r6aF64r2HOxh9btemZ0JjwA3LumHRPbW-MVpxvstQ-W0fL53AXq5k-UBZE/s1600/freestanding_posts.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHAIlkdyRmki75WC2Lh5-f-AQ7qcgmkZ9dafJ1Q8TnODH4yacq8F77m5lGnALN9vpg7CbBlR2eGdmiHwwK9r6aF64r2HOxh9btemZ0JjwA3LumHRPbW-MVpxvstQ-W0fL53AXq5k-UBZE/s320/freestanding_posts.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/2">Open Water</a> swim test: swim to the freestanding posts and back, twice.</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PJ, Sammy and Matt Howell are back on the rock from their trans-Central American road trip!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Green Moray Eel feeding on a Lionfish @ Blue Channel</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ocean Triggerfish (doing their flappy dance) @ Lighthouse (in the blue, off the wall)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Spotted Eagle Rays @ Hole In The Wall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Very calm, partly cloudy....It could rain. Maybe aye, maybe no.</span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1463167718362039718.post-19050695700759847322012-01-25T08:34:00.000-08:002012-01-25T08:35:59.367-08:00Familiar Faces<br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Almost every week, and certainly every month, a familiar face reappears at Coconut Tree. People come and go, but there are certainly many who return year after year (you know who you are!) - and they often seem surprised to see many of the same faces behind the desk or giving the dive briefings. And then all the way from Oz, Jules appeared…</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ever elusive to the camera, we were not able to find a photo of Jules underwater...</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After nine months of travelling in Central Asia, Scandinavia and Latin America, Jules arrived in Roatan ready for two weeks of sun, sea and a half-hearted desire to do a bit of diving. Her original plan was to refresh her dive skills, and maybe do a couple of fun dives . But, Jules didn’t count on falling in love with Roatan or falling in love with diving… </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Those few days turned into eleven weeks and Jules went from (in her own words) ‘a flailing air thief’ to diving five or six days a week, doing the morning two-tank dives and the odd night dive. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At Coconut Tree, Jules did a refresher course with Monty, and then completed her <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/3">Advanced Open Water</a> with Marco within her first week at the shop. She now has more than 70 dives in her <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/">Coconut Tree</a> log book.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Jules said, “When I came here in November, I didn’t ever think that I would do my <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/3">Advanced Open Water</a>, let alone gain the confidence to do night dives, to enjoy deep dives or even complete a 74 minute dive. But, I did! And, I definitely didn’t expect to spend eleven weeks diving, to talk diving or even buy some dive gear!"</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, what’s next for Jules? More diving of course…And maybe, just maybe, we’ll see her back at Coconut Tree to complete the much discussed <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/6">Rescue Diver</a> and <a href="http://www.coconuttreedivers.com/courses/7">Divemaster</a> courses.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Recent Sightings</b>:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">5 Turtles (one dive) @ Half Moon Bay Wall</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Criss-Cross Tritonia @ Shallow Aquario (night - it's very very small...)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">African Pompano!!! @ Shallow SeaQuest (a first for Marco!)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Half Moon Bay Weather Report</b>:</span></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A beautiful day for diving, Potlicker is out at West End Wall</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hot in the sun, with the flag on the glass bottom boat only flapping half heartedly.</span></div>CTD Crewhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09050312703596273758noreply@blogger.com0