The Caribbean

Life in and around the water has always been a large part of my life.  I don’t even remember my first trip to the ocean because I was only 7 months old.  It didn’t take me long to learn that the call of the seagull, the smell of the salt air and the crashing of the waves will always be a part of me.

Though surrounded by the Great Lakes, I’m more drawn to the salt water, particularly to the Caribbean because of its warmth.  My first trip to Caribbean waters was in July, 1991 when I took an eco trip with Oceanic Society Expeditions on board the 70 foot schooner, Jennifer Marie, to study spotted dolphins.  It was then that I realized how great 100 feet of underwater visibility could be.  After that trip, other Caribbean adventures followed.

Where I’ve Been

Grand Bahama [Project Spotted Dolphin, a research trip via Oceanic Society Expeditions on board the Jennifer Marie  – July, 1991]

Bahamas [aboard the newly launched Disney Magic – November, 1998]

Placencia, Belize [Belize Whale Sharks, Dolphins and Reefs, a research trip via Oceanic Society Expeditions – April, 2000]

Bahamas [aboard the Live Aboard Dive Boat Pilot with Nekton Diving Cruises – July, 2002]

Western Caribbean – Grand Cayman, Costa Maya Mexico, Cozumel and Belize [aboard the Carnival Miracle – February, 2005]

Eastern Caribbean – Half Moon Cay, St. Thomas, San Juan and Grand Turk [aboard the Carnival Elation – May, 2006]

Costa Maya Mexico, Puerto Limon Costa Rica, Cristobal Panama, Caya Levantado Dominican Republic, Curacao Netherlands and Santa Marta Columbia [aboard the MSC Opera – January, 2007]

Labadee Haiti, Ocho Rios Jamaica, Grand Cayman and Cozumel [aboard Royal Caribbean Mariner of the Seas – March, 2008]

Grand Turk and Montego Bay [aboard Carnival Breeze – January, 2013]

Scuba diving was enjoyed at many of these locations (having gotten certified after the age of 40).  Although it has now been 4 years since I’ve been diving, the experience of swimming with mammoth whale sharks, the colorful array of the variety of tropical fish and most of all, the vibrations felt by a dolphin bouncing its echolocation waves off me, has a huge pull to return to the sea.