July / August
2006-07-20 @ 10:13:04
We have had a great 2 months. The dive school is at its busiest; we have had hammerheads and a manta ray on our house reef; Doug Mc Neese from SSI was here and Monty is about to arrive with a large group from Little Rock, Arkansas. With 2 boats in the yard for their annual haul out everyone is working like crazy.
So to the dive school. We have seen an increase not only from overseas guests but the resident population of divers is set to increase dramatically. Sunset Divers are fortunate enough to be the host instructional facility forSt. Mathews University. This prestigious medical school chose Sunset House as their dedicated dive center for the same reason as many others. The resort has everything needed for great diver training in one convenient location. Initially we began a class of 40 Open Water students with Pete and Freddy at the helm.
Next semester we enroll just over 110 students in the program and will form an integral part of the students’ academic week. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer the programs to the University. I’d like to thank Matt (Dive Coordinator) for his invaluable help. We are currently finalizing plans with the Veterinary School to provide them with diver training, so busy times are ahead. Pete tells me he is averaging nearly 25 students a week, which must make us the busiest school in the Caymans!
Imagine- your 10 yrs old and you on your first resort dive. Twenty yards from shore in 12 feet of water you come face to face with a Scalloped Hammerhead that is twice your size! What would you do? Annie Osborne had no hesitation in swimming after the large pelagic to get a closer look while still holding the hand of her instructor. What a great way to begin your diving future and so close to shore. This occurred a couple of weeks ago and needless to say the story got out and we were besieged by shark spotters! The shark was seen on three other occasions, usually in the mornings around our resident wreck. So some lucky people got a rare, up close and personal viewing of this beautiful animal. This great event was then followed shortly afterwards by a juvenile manta ray visiting and staying on the reef for a week or so. Lots of people saw this including again, new students on their first Open Water dive. Meghan was as excited as they were. With warm temperatures (at the moment 84 degrees) we are seeing great critter sightings at most every destination. Our resident team of Squid that hang out just beyond the ladders are breeding like crazy, with some interesting photo opportunities. Personally, I find them very difficult to shoot and although they are extremely interested in my Ikelite housings, I am yet to get the shot required for the cover of National Geographic. Strange that…
Rob is busy in the yard so don’t be surprised if he’s not driving your boat for the next couple of months. Sea Ray and Leopard Ray are in the yard getting the cosmetic face lift they need so badly after a busy season. It’s not attractive work with temperatures in the low 100’s in the engine room, but Rob and his assistants really get their teeth into the jobs and will, no doubt, expedite the job as quickly as possible. Your staff at Sunset Divers work hard all year round to provide the best possible dive vacation for you. So a big personal thank you to each and everyone of the team who makes the ‘experience’ such a positive one.
I just got back from a great Dive Show in Long Beach, California. A big thank you to all the divers that stopped by. It’s always wonderful to see familiar faces at these shows and important for Sunset Divers to be seen in the marketplace. Keith and I attended and did some good business, particularly on the Saturday which proved to be very busy.
Sad news is that Sam is on the move (again). Gladly I don’t think this will be the end for his continued support.
There’s been talk of him exploring Costa Rica and surrounding area with a Super Model, but we hope to have him back for the Christmas rush. A sad loss of a valuable favorite. Once again we wish him luck in the future. Incidentally Sam has had more leaving parties than anyone else!
And so to finish, those of you who are attending our next IDC its time to step up the home study a notch. Contact Dave or myself for additional help or support. Dave will be bringing some candidates with him and I’ll be supplying the staff instructors. Anyone interested in either, should contact me as soon as possible. Remember our IDC’s focus on resort operations and have additional seminars, boat dives and experience programs designed to give you a thorough introduction to the life of a Resort Instructor. There is still space but there filling fast.
On that note, Happy Holidays and Safe Diving,
Mike
Mike can be contacted at mikep@sunsethouse.com
This months Captains Log is sponsored by Ikelite Underwater Housings and Delta Divers.
http://www.ikelite.com
So to the dive school. We have seen an increase not only from overseas guests but the resident population of divers is set to increase dramatically. Sunset Divers are fortunate enough to be the host instructional facility forSt. Mathews University. This prestigious medical school chose Sunset House as their dedicated dive center for the same reason as many others. The resort has everything needed for great diver training in one convenient location. Initially we began a class of 40 Open Water students with Pete and Freddy at the helm.
Next semester we enroll just over 110 students in the program and will form an integral part of the students’ academic week. We are extremely pleased to be able to offer the programs to the University. I’d like to thank Matt (Dive Coordinator) for his invaluable help. We are currently finalizing plans with the Veterinary School to provide them with diver training, so busy times are ahead. Pete tells me he is averaging nearly 25 students a week, which must make us the busiest school in the Caymans!Imagine- your 10 yrs old and you on your first resort dive. Twenty yards from shore in 12 feet of water you come face to face with a Scalloped Hammerhead that is twice your size! What would you do? Annie Osborne had no hesitation in swimming after the large pelagic to get a closer look while still holding the hand of her instructor. What a great way to begin your diving future and so close to shore. This occurred a couple of weeks ago and needless to say the story got out and we were besieged by shark spotters! The shark was seen on three other occasions, usually in the mornings around our resident wreck. So some lucky people got a rare, up close and personal viewing of this beautiful animal. This great event was then followed shortly afterwards by a juvenile manta ray visiting and staying on the reef for a week or so. Lots of people saw this including again, new students on their first Open Water dive. Meghan was as excited as they were. With warm temperatures (at the moment 84 degrees) we are seeing great critter sightings at most every destination. Our resident team of Squid that hang out just beyond the ladders are breeding like crazy, with some interesting photo opportunities. Personally, I find them very difficult to shoot and although they are extremely interested in my Ikelite housings, I am yet to get the shot required for the cover of National Geographic. Strange that…
Rob is busy in the yard so don’t be surprised if he’s not driving your boat for the next couple of months. Sea Ray and Leopard Ray are in the yard getting the cosmetic face lift they need so badly after a busy season. It’s not attractive work with temperatures in the low 100’s in the engine room, but Rob and his assistants really get their teeth into the jobs and will, no doubt, expedite the job as quickly as possible. Your staff at Sunset Divers work hard all year round to provide the best possible dive vacation for you. So a big personal thank you to each and everyone of the team who makes the ‘experience’ such a positive one.
I just got back from a great Dive Show in Long Beach, California. A big thank you to all the divers that stopped by. It’s always wonderful to see familiar faces at these shows and important for Sunset Divers to be seen in the marketplace. Keith and I attended and did some good business, particularly on the Saturday which proved to be very busy.
Sad news is that Sam is on the move (again). Gladly I don’t think this will be the end for his continued support.
There’s been talk of him exploring Costa Rica and surrounding area with a Super Model, but we hope to have him back for the Christmas rush. A sad loss of a valuable favorite. Once again we wish him luck in the future. Incidentally Sam has had more leaving parties than anyone else!And so to finish, those of you who are attending our next IDC its time to step up the home study a notch. Contact Dave or myself for additional help or support. Dave will be bringing some candidates with him and I’ll be supplying the staff instructors. Anyone interested in either, should contact me as soon as possible. Remember our IDC’s focus on resort operations and have additional seminars, boat dives and experience programs designed to give you a thorough introduction to the life of a Resort Instructor. There is still space but there filling fast.
On that note, Happy Holidays and Safe Diving,
Mike
Mike can be contacted at mikep@sunsethouse.com
This months Captains Log is sponsored by Ikelite Underwater Housings and Delta Divers.
http://www.ikelite.com