Location: Great Harbor, Peter Island
Sailing out of Leverick Bay at 7 am, we conducted a 3-hour sail to our next dive location, The Wall at GHP. Before we arrived, however, most of us lay near the bow, on the net or deck, soaking in the sun and occasionally getting sprayed with salt water; but we were mostly asleep for the duration of the journey. Marin and Claire, however, ensured our safe arrival at our destination, sailing the boat for us.
When we arrived at our destination, we went over a brief rundown for our first underwater camera dive, learning how to take hoots, all the different modes for a better quality image, and how to assemble the camera and the light, and how to clean it after use. We then assembled our gear, split into two groups, and descended towards The Wall. This was one of our favorite dives yet, and one of the deepest as well, with some of our divers hitting 50 feet deep! The vertical climb of all the coral was really impressive, and a wide variety of fish was to be seen as well.
In teams of two (one team of three), we rotated who used the underwater camera, with each group taking a multitude of amazing photos of fish and coral. Once the dive ended, the extreme heat prompted many on the boat to take to the water and continue their investigation of the wall in the form of snorkeling. We then packed up for a short sail to a different part of Peter Island. Once parked, we went over how to make a bowline knot and reviewed the photos we took.
After that, the sun was starting to set, and we did some water skiing and showers. Tonight is Mexican night, and we begin our research diver certification right afterward.
Today was both a mixture of high and low energy, the transition seeming seamless, but tomorrow will be exciting, without a doubt.