November 17th, 2006
2006-11-27 @ 05:21:12
Last night we moved the boats for the first time this winter. The cold fronts slowly make there way south at this time of the year and at this point we know summer is over. The strange thing is that the water temperature has only decreased slightly. The fronts normally last a couple of days but this does not deter us from any diving activities.
Freddy and Pete’s summer expeditions to the south side will be beneficial now. Being the closest dive center to the southern walls of Grand Cayman has many benefits. Knowledge is one and with Freddy’s keen eye there will be plenty to interest all levels.
I guess I have to mention the fact that Freddy is now a 100% qualified PADI Instructor. He was successful in all areas of his instructor course which was held here at Sunset House. His success is largely due, we feel, to Pete and I who taught him to swim and do a fin pivot all by himself…
All candidates passed with flying colors and with the open water portion of the Instructor Examination being held here it was a great location for après- IE celebrations. Not wishing to ignore custom or tradition Freddy and the new instructors performed admirably at My Bar that evening. Mr. Gary Mawston the legendary British Course Director would have been proud!
Freddy & Course Director Dave Hinman moments after passing his Instructor Exams. There were tears later.
And so Freddy starts his first Open Water course this weekend with 8 eager students. Good luck to you all!
We are extremely grateful to Dave Hinman who is our Course Director. He runs a superb program (100% pass rates) and it’s a pleasure working with him. After working with Freddy for 9 days Dave is doing well and expects to return to a full and meaningful life in Rome, New York with his beautiful wife!!!
Jax and Kevin complete our annual Schools program this month. Find out more about our Kev in this months bio.
Diving conditions have up to now, been superb. Yesterday morning during a class I saw 2 nurse sharks and a dozen trevallies in a feeding frenzy on the edge of the sea pool! My student was pretty impressed and once again a great photo opportunity denied. Great action in 8 feet of water! Resident turtles, the famous Mermaid and a great little wreck make Sunset Reef a fabulous dive.
We’ve had the busiest 2 weeks of the year if you don’t count Total Submersion (April 07-book now) with fantastic group business. The boys and girls have done a great job in sharing our underwater world. We have a little rest for a couple of days and we go again with a big group from Atlanta through Thanksgiving. It’s been 3-boat days this week and next week looks no different. With our newly acquired v-hull (yet to be named- e mail me with sensible ideas!) we are able to get to dive sites a little further away and guests certainly don’t complain about the speed of this boat. There are rumors that Manta will be on line on April 1st 2007. Watch this space. Eagle Ray will be ready by Dec 1st and Pete’s jet-ski sank the other day!
Talking of groups and as you have, no doubt read on the front page we had a brilliant 4 days at the DEMA trade show. Not only did we catch up with dozens of familiar faces, we broke all records on future group bookings! Were proud of the fact that there are an increasing number of travel agents, wholesalers and most importantly, independent dive stores who are realizing that the convenience that Sunset House provides makes us the obvious choice for a great dive vacation. A heartfelt thank you to you all.
It should be pointed out that our GM Dee did most of the work here and Keith and I just looked glamorous in the background- those who saw-know!
Pirates Week ends tomorrow with fireworks and street carnival. It’s been fun to see pirates wondering the streets day and night. Seattle Seafaires are here again and they take the whole nostalgia thing very seriously. Lots of events throughout the island which gives us a global presence due to the news stations filming everywhere. It’s a great week so next year think about being part of the Carnival.
Megan leaves this weekend and we wish her the very best.
Congratulations to Stubby & Rhonda at Ikelite- proud Grand parents and best wishes to Rob’s Father- Get well soon.
Dee and Ivan hit the road again next month for the Florida Dive Show. I’ll be in New York in March for the Beneath the Sea Dive Show and Alaska in May to write an article on Kodiak Island diving.
One thing is guaranteed. Sunset Divers will continue to provide unrivalled service to the diving consumer no matter where they came from. Happy Thanksgiving to all- we’ll be at Freddy and Liz’ house – eat and be merry….
Safe Diving
Mike
Mike Pinnington can be contacted at
mikep@sunsethouse.com
The Captains Log is sponsored by Ikelite Underwater Housings- the Sensible Choice.
Freddy and Pete’s summer expeditions to the south side will be beneficial now. Being the closest dive center to the southern walls of Grand Cayman has many benefits. Knowledge is one and with Freddy’s keen eye there will be plenty to interest all levels.
I guess I have to mention the fact that Freddy is now a 100% qualified PADI Instructor. He was successful in all areas of his instructor course which was held here at Sunset House. His success is largely due, we feel, to Pete and I who taught him to swim and do a fin pivot all by himself…
All candidates passed with flying colors and with the open water portion of the Instructor Examination being held here it was a great location for après- IE celebrations. Not wishing to ignore custom or tradition Freddy and the new instructors performed admirably at My Bar that evening. Mr. Gary Mawston the legendary British Course Director would have been proud!
Freddy & Course Director Dave Hinman moments after passing his Instructor Exams. There were tears later.
And so Freddy starts his first Open Water course this weekend with 8 eager students. Good luck to you all!
We are extremely grateful to Dave Hinman who is our Course Director. He runs a superb program (100% pass rates) and it’s a pleasure working with him. After working with Freddy for 9 days Dave is doing well and expects to return to a full and meaningful life in Rome, New York with his beautiful wife!!!
Jax and Kevin complete our annual Schools program this month. Find out more about our Kev in this months bio.
Diving conditions have up to now, been superb. Yesterday morning during a class I saw 2 nurse sharks and a dozen trevallies in a feeding frenzy on the edge of the sea pool! My student was pretty impressed and once again a great photo opportunity denied. Great action in 8 feet of water! Resident turtles, the famous Mermaid and a great little wreck make Sunset Reef a fabulous dive.
We’ve had the busiest 2 weeks of the year if you don’t count Total Submersion (April 07-book now) with fantastic group business. The boys and girls have done a great job in sharing our underwater world. We have a little rest for a couple of days and we go again with a big group from Atlanta through Thanksgiving. It’s been 3-boat days this week and next week looks no different. With our newly acquired v-hull (yet to be named- e mail me with sensible ideas!) we are able to get to dive sites a little further away and guests certainly don’t complain about the speed of this boat. There are rumors that Manta will be on line on April 1st 2007. Watch this space. Eagle Ray will be ready by Dec 1st and Pete’s jet-ski sank the other day!
Talking of groups and as you have, no doubt read on the front page we had a brilliant 4 days at the DEMA trade show. Not only did we catch up with dozens of familiar faces, we broke all records on future group bookings! Were proud of the fact that there are an increasing number of travel agents, wholesalers and most importantly, independent dive stores who are realizing that the convenience that Sunset House provides makes us the obvious choice for a great dive vacation. A heartfelt thank you to you all.
It should be pointed out that our GM Dee did most of the work here and Keith and I just looked glamorous in the background- those who saw-know!
Pirates Week ends tomorrow with fireworks and street carnival. It’s been fun to see pirates wondering the streets day and night. Seattle Seafaires are here again and they take the whole nostalgia thing very seriously. Lots of events throughout the island which gives us a global presence due to the news stations filming everywhere. It’s a great week so next year think about being part of the Carnival.
Megan leaves this weekend and we wish her the very best.
Congratulations to Stubby & Rhonda at Ikelite- proud Grand parents and best wishes to Rob’s Father- Get well soon.
Dee and Ivan hit the road again next month for the Florida Dive Show. I’ll be in New York in March for the Beneath the Sea Dive Show and Alaska in May to write an article on Kodiak Island diving.
One thing is guaranteed. Sunset Divers will continue to provide unrivalled service to the diving consumer no matter where they came from. Happy Thanksgiving to all- we’ll be at Freddy and Liz’ house – eat and be merry….
Safe Diving
Mike
Mike Pinnington can be contacted at
mikep@sunsethouse.com
The Captains Log is sponsored by Ikelite Underwater Housings- the Sensible Choice.