Location: Great Harbor, Jost van Dyke
Today, we got to sleep in until 7:30 and woke up to a breakfast of cereal by the sea. After eating and cleaning up, we took the written portion of the exam to get certified as sailors. Luckily, everyone passed with scores above 80! 📝 Next, we had the big dive, the “Rhone Dive,” which was a wreck dive around a World War II Navy message deliverer. The instructor told us the fascinating story behind the wreck: This boat, along with the Titanic, was once considered unsinkable. During a hurricane 🌀, the boat anchored near Salt Island to ride out the storm and ensure all the passengers got a good night’s sleep. The crew tied the passengers to their beds for safety. But in the heart of the storm, the anchor ⚓️ snapped, sending the boat crashing into Salt Island. It is split in half, with the bow and stern now resting on the ocean floor. Luckily, 25 of the crew survived and were rescued by the natives of Salt Island. In exchange for the rescue, the people of the island only had to pay a jar of salt, instead of heavy island taxes! On the dive, aside from the wreck, we saw some cool sea creatures: a couple of large lobsters, pufferfish, and an eagle ray. My group, which included Jade and me, had an amazing time exploring the wreck. Afterward, we had lunch, ramen 🍽️, and then went on a hike around Salt Island, exploring the salt ponds. Henry, Austin, Jack, Brooks, Levi, and I ended up on the far side of the island, but we managed to find our way back. To wrap up the day, we got to snorkel, take ocean showers, and start Mexican night, which was delicious.👍