Pieces of Eights: September 2013

A sunset beer at Palau Pacific Resort

I’ve been alerted to the fact that it’s been 3 weeks since my last post…woops! I’ve been kept pretty busy diving about 6 days each week and after you throw in a few social events, time is flying by!

So where is the diving up to you ask? About 3 weeks ago I completed my Rescue Diver course and my Emergency First Responder (First Aid) training. I’ve since started on working my way through the long list of requirements for the Dive Master certification. I should finish that up by the end of this month. I’ve also been getting in plenty of dives as well, just yesterday I clocked up my 50^th dive here in Palau.

Sunset at PPR

I’m enjoying it more and more as my confidence & local knowledge about the sites, currents and aquatic life grows. One of the best aspects has been the social interaction with the guests on the boat. I have met some fantastic people and aim to keep up a friendship with them, hopefully even seeing them again in Palau or another part of the world.

PPR's pool & sunset

During my short career in diving I’ve only come across one or two people that have been difficult customers, a couple of novice divers have been a little challenging mostly due to lack of experience. Maybe I’ve been lucky so far, or maybe the dive community is filled with generally awesome people. I prefer to think it’s the latter.

Bridge Trilogy Part 1: Virtual Light

Anyone reading this blog who has dived regularly or even occasionally probably knows how tiring it can be. So after diving 5-6 days a week I’ve had little time at night for more than eating some dinner, watching few episodes of TV show before reading a little & promptly passing out. As a side note if you like your humour random and quirky then try an animated show called ‘The Regular Show’. It’s my current favourite. But I would avoid reading Jack Kerouac’s ‘On The Road’, in my opinion it’s a poorly written, pointless over hyped book. I’m not sure why I’ve stuck with it but I’m glad I’m only a few pages from finishing it so I move onto something else.

Bridge Trilogy Part II: Idoru

Bridge Trilogy Part III: All Tomorrow's Parties

Just to keep us social busy we’ve had plenty of regular catch up’s with our new friends here too. Everything from small dinner parties to a few beers and dinner at a restaurant to a large party to watch the Aussie election results. (What a complete joke the Australian system of government has become).

We also have a new Aussie volunteer on the island so we are no longer the newbies! Unfortunately the rotation of people off the island has continued and some great people have unfortunately left for new adventures elsewhere. So goes the ex-pat lifestyle!