Location: South Bay, Peter Island
‘Twas the first night on our vessel, and all through the boats, not a creature was stirring… except the fifteen thousand roosters at three in the morning by our docks. After spending several long hours trudging through airplanes, taxi cabs, and ferries, all we wanted to do was sleep the night away. Unfortunately, every living creature on God’s green earth had other plans. Once the demonic cries of our feathered “friends” had died down, we enjoyed cereal and pineapple. After having a fierce discussion over what the remaining 98% of the 2% milk was made out of, we were asked to attend The Meeting. No one knew what this meant, but we soon began our march down to the meeting grounds. We all crowded together in a large room where a man named Mike introduced himself as ruler of all ActionQuest and welcomed us. He then gave us an inspiring speech on adventure and told us about the great number of friends and memories we will make on this journey. This incredible oration was followed by what felt like several hours and hours of the rules and regulations we needed to adhere to. Now with our rules established and expectations set high, the real journey was ready to commence. Returning to our boats, we set both motor and sail to the southern bay of Peter Island, a relatively small isle discovered by none other than the great Dr. Island. Upon arrival and losing less than a quarter of our crew along the way (a personal record), we dropped anchor and had lunch. Thirty minutes after eating, we took the dreaded swim test – a long and arduous trial that challenged us both physically and mentally, ensuring that we were truly ready for taking the Emergency Rescue Diver course – seven laps around the boat. Afterward, those still alive began preparing their equipment for a warmup dive on the basics of scuba. Being certified advanced divers, we all had a decent understanding of most of the advanced diving equipment like the snorkel or mask. Once we had set up and briefed on our tasks, the dive began. Slowly, we descended along the anchor line down into the great watery depths found only in the Caribbean. With thirty feet in between us and the safety of dry land, we finally touched the sea floor and completed our tasks with few complications and fatalities. Dinner was waiting for us after the dive – at least, the ingredients to dinner were waiting since most meals are prepared by us. Sloppy Joes were our delicacy for this evening, served with sweet corn and mashed potatoes. After satisfying our desire for food and drink, we slept a nice, rooster-free sleep, preparing for the many days and experiences that lie ahead.