First Post - October 31st, 2008

OK. This is our first blog, so please excuse the way that the blog looks, we are still trying to figure it out. We are really excited to be blogging! We wanted a way to let all of the friends of Octopus Diving know what is going on here, both above and below the water. So we intend to update this blog as often as possible (at least weekly but most likely more often) letting you all know about the goings on in St. Martin and dive related activities.

With Hurricane OMAR out of the way we are excited to be back in the water, hitting the dive sites, and checking out all thre is to see here. One really cool change is that the Porpoise (one of our many wrecks) is now on its side. So for us, it is like having a totally knew dive site. Also, we are super happy to say that our local reefs, Creole Rock and Turtle Reef, surivived OMAR with little damage. We are also continuing on with our student certifications. So... congrats to Helen, Sim, Marc and Glen for completing their Advanced Open Water and Open Water certifications respectively.

Sally also represented Octopus Diving at the DEMA Show in Las Vegas. This was our first DEMA, so mostly Sally was taking it all in, going to all the informative seminars, and promoting Octopus Diving and St. Martin in general, as a fantastic dive destination. Unfortunately Chris had to stay in St. Martin and continue to take divers out, teach courses, etc, but hopefully we will be able to go together as a team next year. All in all it was a success, and Sally managed to stay out of the casinos and not gamble away the diving center (which was a concern of Craig's).

We invite everyone to come and check out the new store, as we have totally renovated both the inside and out. Chris and Sim did most of the work, although we did work as a team to get the whole thing done, so thanks to Sim, H and Craig for all their help. The center is now a more relaxed, fun place to hang out, where divers can catch up on all the latest fish gossip, debreif from their dives, or maybe just have a coffee (or a beer) and get to know each other. Chris did a fantastic job and you should really come and see!

Please watch this space... we will keep you updated on the day to day activities here at Octopus Diving in St. Martin.

-this blog was written by Sally (Craig helped a little).