Frog Fish Siting

Yesterday, JP took out a family of four. There was Lisa, Phil, Clay and Jordanna. They currently live in Utah, but apparently they bounce around a lot. Apart from being a really nice family, Phil and Clay have really great eyes underwater. They managed to see a Frog Fish. I think they were then pretty suprised when JP took the camera and started taking photo of it! You know you've found something good when the dive guide is really excited. JP got this photos below....

They are just so amazing. We have heard that there are Frog Fish in the area, but this is the first one that we have seen. Frog fish are so named because they look like toads almost, but they are actually fish.

They are a type of anglerfish, but are distinguished from anglerfish by their three dorsal fins (these are the fins on the back of the fish). You can just about make them out on the photo above. They are extremely hard to see because they are so well camouflaged. They can change color to match their background and have various warts and growths that make them almost invisible.

I love them because they have such a pronounced frown and always look so grumpy. They don't actually swim, as such, instead it looks like they are "walking" on their pectoral fins (these kind of look like feet). They can also propel themselves forward by forcing water from two small openings behind and below the pectoral fins. How cool is that? Chris and I have seen them

We are all really excited and will be looking for Frog Fishes all the time. They are so hard to spot, I wonder if they haven't been around, or if we just aren't seeing them.

Anyway... I'll keep you posted if we find any more!

(sally wrote this blog :P )

Twittering on Twitter

There was so much hype about Twitter, that we decided we should check it out. For those of you who are stuck in the last year (the phrase "last century" is no more appropriate for the current exponential changes in technology) Twitter is a way for people to let friends and family know what is going on, at any given moment.

So... this is how it works; you create an account on Twitter.com. Then you can write up to 160 words for each "update" and people who follow you on Twitter will be able to know what is going on. It is similar to "status updates" on facebook. Kind of like this blog, but instead of a whole paragraph it is just a snippet of information. For example "Diver's just left for boat." "We are eating lunch." "Diver's said they saw a turtle." Etc.

Anyway... apparently people are really into it, and after having signed up, it's kind of addictive. Not that anyone is actually following it at the moment, but it kind of gives you an "I'm famous, people want to know what I am doing" feeling. Totally unfounded, however.

If you would like to follow us on Twitter, then just look at http://twitter.com/Octopusdiving
or, alternatively, I have put a "Twitter box" on our homepage. The latest ramblings are about internet frustration. But maybe it will be interesting to see how it works. It means that as people go on our website they can a) check out the blog to find out what is going on OR b) look at the Twitter box for a sentance summarizing current activities in Saint Martin.

If you are coming to this site via the website, then you have already seen it. If you are coming as a loyal follower of my blognonesense, then check out our website on the home page http://octopusdiving.com

You can even set Twitter up so that you can update it from your phone. Luckily, we can't take phones diving, or I might be sending in messages like "just saw a fish" "10 minutes into dive, I'm at 60 feet" "diver seems to be trying to get my attention" "diver still signaling me" "maybe I should help" "No, I'd rather send messages to Twitter."

Maybe this is one of the reasons that diving is so special, because down there the only way of communicating with anyone is through hand signals, or maybe tapping on your tank to make some noise. There is no instantaneous way of letting the entire world aware of exactly what you are doing in that second. The time during the dive, that is just for you!

So, that's all for now. The divers are at Tintamarre at the moment, and via a text message sent from my husband (from the boat), I know that the vis is really great. Maybe he should have texted that to Twitter? Then I could have checked on-line to find out, instead of the boring way of actually receiving the message on my phone.

OH, and don't worry, I promise not to abandon the blog!

(this was written by Sally :P )

Alex Richardson - Diving Instructor in the Making

We recently hosted Alex here at Octopus Diving, while he was completing his "stage" for school. In France, during highschool, the students do a work placement during their last two years. The work placement or internship, is normally 2 weeks.

Originally, Alex wanted to work for Undersea Explorers (this is the glass bottom boat that leaves from Grand Case) but they said that "he needed to have the diving certification for him to be able to dive." I should explain that Undersea Explorers has some divers in thew ater while the people are in the glass bottom boat showing the people the fish.

So.... they brought Alex here.

We had never heard of a "Stage" before, so we weren't sure what it was. I told Alex that we work really hard here, and that we work long hours. He said that this wasn't a problem, and that he was willing to work really hard.

I said yes, and then three weeks later Alex started his stage here. The first day, we weren't really sure what to do with him, so I made him clean the shop. He wasn't too happy with this! The second day Alex went out on the boat to Creole Rock, and this he enjoyed a lot more. Then, as I had an open water student starting I asked Alex if he wanted to learn to dive. He said yes. So the next day we started his open water course. He was very much happier to be doing this than being in school. Although, some of the theory of diving he said "was just like school." And "being just like school" means that it was boring and he didn't like it.

He's sitting behind me now and doesn't like that I am writing that he said "it was just like school."

But you did, Alex. So there.

Alex was a natural in the water, and Constance, my open water student at the time, really enjoyed being in the same class as him, it just made it more fun. It took him a while to pluck up the courage to take the final exam, but when he did, he only got two questions wrong (awsome!).

So, now he is an open water diver, and all around helper in the dive center. He loves diving, especially with JP.

I will now ask him why? "ok ok. Because.... you are actually writing "ok ok"? ha ha ha. oh my goodness. ok. because, he said, I mean, I like diving with him because he is really funny underwater, he makes me laugh a lot. ha ha ha."

Now we will get back to the interview:

Alex, tell us something about yourself.

"I like chocolate. Ummm. I want to become a dive instructor, or maybe not. Maybe, I will become a diver for Undersea Explorer."

Where do you live?

"I live in Grand Case."

How old are you?

"I'm 14."

What was the best part about doing your stage at Octopus Diving?

"Diving."

Who would you prefer to dive with, me or JP?

"I already told you. JP"

I think that that is unfair, I want a second chance. Diving with me is really fun too.

Now Alex's stage is over, but he is still here all the time. We make him work for diving. So he helps us with customers, helps clean the shop, etc, and in return we let him dive with JP (and sometimes me!)

Hopefully, soon he will be able to do his Junior Advanced Open Water and then Junior Rescue Diver. Then, when he is 18, he can do his Divemaster with us. Only 4 years to go!

The photo of Alex above was the one that I took for his Junior Open Water Certification. He is wearing the "Rasta Hat" and trying to look too cool!

We are really happy that Alex came to us, and he is quickly becoming part of the Octopus family. He may be only 14, but he has the maturity of someome much older. Hopefully, if you dive or snorkel with us, you will get to meet him.

(This blog was written by Sally :) )

Octopodes!

Hey... I know that I haven't blogged in awhile (Chris posted the last one), but a lot has been going on. Firstly, I was trying to survive being bitten by all of the wild life on Saint Martin.... this included a dog and a couple of fire ants. The fire ants are actually more deadly to me, because I am allergic, so that means that I end up looking like a super fat crocodile unless I seek immediate medical attention.

Anyway... the final score is Sally 2 - saint martin wildlife 0. So, ha!

(You thought that I was going to say I was bitten by a shark, or a grouper, huh? Well, they are actually much less harmful than dogs and fire ants).

Also, I have been studying really hard for my equivalence test in France in June, and generally, just slacking on the blogging front. So as my Uncle would say: Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa, Mea Culpa.

When I first started writing this blog my intention was to mention that we have been seeing loads of octopodes lately. I need to find out more information about them, but they are definetely around more now, then they were in the winter. Yesterday, Chris saw three, and two were together at the same time. Here are a couple photos that Mog, Chris's open water student at the time, captured.

I also saw one today when I was diving with Jessica, Jennifer, Alex, Dimitri, Shawn and Michael, (from Texas, Michegan, Brooklyn and Seattle but not in that order.) They are just too cool. I could really watch them for hours.

So that was my original intention, (to write about octopodes, (I also intended to use less parentheses (but you can see that isn't happening))) but I thought that I would also tell everyone that I now have an awsome new haircut. I know it has nothing to do with diving, but I decided to tell you all anyway! ha! And here are two photos... they aren't the best photos, ok?

In fact in this photo below, I kind of look a little evil. But for those of you who haven't dived with us, or who are considering diving with us, I'm really not. Also, my vocal language skills are much better than my written language skills. Chris told me to look at the camera from the side, so I did, but that has made me look a little strange!

Anyway folks, I gotta run. It's 5:30 on a Sunday, so that means BBQ time with some friends on the balcony in time for the sun set at 6:45 pm. Grand Case is the best places to watch the sunsets in Saint Martin.

(Sally wrote this blog, couldn't you tell? :) )

New Dive ladder

Remember the days of boarding the boat on the rickety old dive ladder, wobbling from side to side....

Those days have gone.

I decided enough was enough and designed a new ladder, as many of you will know I spent a few years in England working as a Mechanical / Electrical Engineer (14 years to be exact).
Luckily this experience has helped me out quite a few times in our travels around the world.

The new design is great, its extremely over engineered and very strong. We fitted the ladder, tested it and what a difference.

Divers are now climbing back onto the boat wearing their equipment with ease, thus saving JP and I from early retirement due to slipped discs !

Soon we will have photo's of it so you can see what to expect when you dive or snorkel with us.

Sally is on the road to recovery after being bitten by an Island dog, luckily there is no rabies on St.Martin.
She was walking down a back alley and the dog was obviously protecting a property. Luckily JP was a minute walk / limp away and she manged to get to hospital. After a course of Antibiotics and no diving she is doing great and will be back in the water on Friday to teach an Advanced Open Water course.

New boat - the search is still on for the new Octopus Diving boat, we have narrowed it down to a 36 foot Twin Vee Catamaran or a Custom built dive boat - the problem with the custom built boat is that its is just a "pure" dive boat and we need an all round dive / snorkel / pleasure boat that people can relax, sun bathe and have fun on.
Watch this space as I made the final offer today and hope that it is accepted on the Twin Vee.
She's a monster and has all the toys one would expect on an offshore fishing vessel. She may be huge (36 long and 12 foot wide) but with only a shallow draft she only needs small engines to push her along and will be as fuel efficient as our current boat.
Being a catamaran she is extremely stable and offers an amazing ride in big seas.

Business is still great and even in May we are busy, I found out from a reliable source yesterday that the Radisson in Anse Marcel is fully booked for June and July - this is very promising so we should have a great summer.
It seems that people have accepted the recession and are just getting on with life as usual which is great - lets hope it continues.

We are still number one with a 5 star rating on http://www.tripadvisor.com/ you can read all our latest reviews by following this link:
http://www.tripadvisor.com/Attraction_Review-g147351-d1092282-Reviews-Octopus_Diving-Grand_Case_St_Maarten_St_Martin.html

That's about it for now, we will update again soon.

Thanks for reading

Chris.