Is it Scuba, Snuba or Snorkel?

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Molokini Crater

Scuba, Snuba or Snorkel

On Calypso we have choices. Its not just a snorkel trip to Molokini. You can choose to Snuba and if certified, Scuba. And don’t forget those glass bottom windows for those who don’t want to get wet. I’m a certified Scuba Diver but I can’t prove it so I opted to try the Snuba Dive. Turns out it’s pretty close to scuba.

Scuba, Snuba & Snorkel explained

For scuba think Jacques Cousteau. Scuba stands for self contained underwater breathing apparatus. Wow that’s a mouthful! You squeeze into a wet suit, strap  20-30 lbs of weight around your waist, then add a metal canister of air and voila, you’re ready to SCUBA dive.

Snuba is the same thing. You squeeze into your wet suit, strap on those weights and add a harness with a regulator. Plastic tubing runs from that metal canister which is located on a small rubber raft to your regulator. Now you’re breathing underwater. The big difference? In scuba you carry your tank around on your back. In Snuba you drag it behind you on an inflatable raft. Why you need to be certified for one and not the other is beyond me. 

For snorkeling you just float around breathing through a “J” shaped tube . Try not to get water in it. Most beginners just float on top of the water. More advanced snorkelers may dive underwater but return to the surface to clear their snorkel and get a breath of air. 

Snuba at Molokini & Turtle Town

Only 2 of us went in the water to SNUBA at Molokini so we each had our own rafts. The water was calm and visibility was amazing. For someone accustomed to diving in New England with 2 ft visibility this was great. There were large schools of black trigger fish. Breaking up all that black were bright yellow butterfly fish and we even spotted a rare sergeant major fish. There were several Moorish Idols swimming around that made me think of Gill from Finding Nemo.

We moved on to Turtle Town for the 2nd dive. This time there were 4 of us. One couple on one raft and myself and the other diver each had our own raft. Turtle Town did not disappoint. The first one we spotted was a huge male turtle who seemed content to just hang out on the ocean floor. The visibility here wasn’t as good as Molokini but still  better than New England.

We spotted several smaller turtles swimming about when the photographer, Marley, came swooping in to grab a “money shot” of me with a turtle. Way to go Marley! Thank you, Dude!

We also saw a snowflake eel. It looked like a tiny sea snake. 

The corals here seemed to rise out of the sea floor in ridges with sand deserts in between them. Too soon it was time to return to the boat. Absolutely great experience!

 

Aye Calypso The Places You’ve Been To

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Aye Calypso, I sing to your spirit

Calypso is still tied to the dock. I’m 15 minutes late but that’s on time by Island time. Racing to the gangway I am nearly knocked over by the force of the wind. These are no gentle Island breezes. It’s gusting and blowing like a hurricane. “We’re not going out in this are we? ” I call out. Tony, the first mate, waves a release at me and promises it will only get better. I’m skeptical. No captain in his right mind would take a boat load of tourists out in this kind of gale in Boston. By now I’m the last to board. I have to make a decision. To go or not to go, that is the question.

To ride on the crest of a wild raging storm

Ok so I signed the release, grabbed my gear and climbed to the bow of the 2nd deck. Almost immediately we cast off. Calypso is a beautiful catamaran. Her double hulls are built for stability. She has 3 decks as well as glass panels in the floor for those land lubbers that want to see what all the snorkeling and diving is about. The crew not only manages the ship, they act a servers too bringing around plates of fruit, muffins, warm cinnamon rolls and even egg and cheese croissants! 

To sail on a dream on a crystal clear ocean

So they were not wrong! As soon as we cleared  Ma’alaea Harbor and went around the point the wind died. We were heading toward Molokini and it had turned into a beautiful day. We had to come to an idle at one point while a mama humpback  whale and her calf checked us out. If a whale comes within 100 yards of a boat it puts that boat into “whale jail” until the whale moves off. The trip was just getting better and better and we hadn’t gotten to Molokini yet!

 

Travels of an Alaska Moose

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Bull MooseTravels of an Alaska Moose

Marvelous Marvin is a traveling Alaska Moose down to his snowshoed hoofs. For years Marvin roamed the frozen Alaska tundra enduring the cold and snow and wind. Each year, especially in spring, he’d see buses of tourists drive through Denali looking for glimpses of wildlife. Marvin wondered where they came from and where they went when they left.  Was there more to the world than this rugged life he lived?

Escape from Denali

It took Marvin a while but he finally got hooked up with an entrepreneur type who knew just what the tourists would like. Before he knew it Marvin was starting on his first travel as an Alaska Moose. He was headed to a new home in Massachusetts.  It was still cold and snowy there in winter so Marvin felt quite at home. Summers were hotter and more humid than Alaska but the sun didn’t stay out as late so he got more sleep. But Marvin was still restless. You’d think a move of more than 3000 miles would satisfy his wanderlust but noooo, not Marvin. He wanted more.

Deb 1 & Deb 2 with Marvin at Mercedes Benz Stadium

Marvin’s Little Adventure

Marvin got his chance for a little adventure when he accompanied his human to Atlanta in Jan 2020. His head is still spinning about his visit to the Mercedes Benz stadium. He was really in demand there! He made so many friends. That place was huge. Still that trip was too short. Marvin was still restless.

Marvin’s Big Adventure

Marvin was thrilled and excited to learn that his human was making another trip to Maui, HI. Would she take him along? Marvin couldn’t wait. He was giddy with anticipation! Finally the day came. It was still dark out when he was bundled into the car for the drive to the airport. He was really going to get to go! What an adventure.

Maui

Marvin wasn’t prepared for Maui. It was beautiful. The airport was open to the breezes. The sun was shining and it was warm but not too warm because the winds were blowing. Driving to the resort Marvin saw whales splashing in the ocean. There were rainbows everywhere! Soo much water! And people stood on boards and seemed to fly over the waves! Amazing. So much to see and so much to do! Marvin was a very happy traveling Alaska Moose.

 

Fly the Friendly Skies with ?

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Fly the Friendly Skies

Fly the Friendly Skies is the slogan for United Airlines. Southwest makes it fun. They have a multitude of slogans “Love Is Still Our Field”, “Just Plane Smart”, “The Somebody Else Up There Who Loves You”, “You’re Now Free To Move About The Country”, “THE Low Fare Airline,”“Grab your bag, It’s On!” and “Welcome Aboard.” The airline’s current slogan is “Low fares.Nothing to hide.”. Delta has requested trademark stats for The World’s Most Trusted Airline.” And what about American? I found 4 possible slogans for American Airlines

So do any of them live up to their slogan?

Who do you Fly with?

I fly Delta quite often. I used to fly Southwest but I got tired of their free for all boarding policy. Granted I think they are a good value but as I’ve gotten older comfort and convenience has trumped low fares, especially when the fare difference isn’t that much. It’s been awhile since I’ve flown United too but for no reason other than they either didn’t fly where I wanted to go or there were better schedules with other airlines. I haven’t had a problem.  I’m flying American Airlines to Hawaii when I take my next trip. So far they have been helpful and accommodating. I’ve had some issues with American in the past so I have my fingers crossed. Delta seems to be my airline of choice even though that’s the only airline I’ve ever seen a flight attendant totally lose it.  Yup, one had a complete melt down. Tore the intercom phone out of the wall and threw it across the cabin.  That’s the only time I’ve been disturbed enough to file a complaint.

It’s all about Attitude, Not Altitude

I hear all about the horror stories. I subscribe to several travel sites and hear the complaints. No airline is immune. I fly for business a couple of times a year and I fly for pleasure 2-3 times a year. That doesn’t put me in the same category as those million mile folks but I’d say that’s probably above average in experience. The way I cope is to chill out. I try not to let the little things get to me. Travelling can be stressful so if your plane is late or you have to be re-routed will it really make a difference? Will you still get where you’re going? I’d much rather have a plane grounded for mechanical problems and my trip delayed than to take off and have an engine fail at 30,000 ft. I go into travel with the attitude that things are going to go wrong. Deal with it. Consider it an adventure.  This means that I don’t yell at the gate attendants, flight attendants or anyone else connected with my experience. And do you know what? They always try to help me out.

 My Favorite Airline

There’s good and bad with all the airlines. There are surly TSA agents and there are friendly out going, helpful ones. There are crowded airports and long lines. It can be exhausting, confusing and just plain irritating.   I really think having a good attitude goes a long way to getting  help when you need it. Sure, I’ve had my share of experiences with grumpy attendants but take a minute to watch how the average traveler treats these employees. I don’t blame them for being rude or less than helpful when they are verbally abused by a good number of passengers. Courtesy is a two way street. Remember, expect the unexpected and roll with it. And the next time you need help try honey instead of vinegar. It might help.

 

 

Rocky the Lap Cat

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Rocky the Lap Cat

Rocky, retired editor cat in chief of this space, orange cat extraordinaire, was never known for being  a  lap cat. That suited me just fine because I wasn’t known for just sitting around waiting for a cat warmer. But Rocky isn’t getting any younger. He’s 18 1/2. He’ll be 19 in May. That’s old for a kitty cat. He doesn’t move around as much as he used to. I am treasuring every minute we have together. But he’s starting to be a little quirky.

Rocky’s Senior Moments

I can sympathize with Rocky when he seems to be confused. I have plenty of senior moments myself. They can be embarrassing.  You know what I mean. You are presenting in a meeting and you are just getting to your point and it’s gone- poof! The mind is blank and you’re scrambling to not look like an idiot. After that happened a couple of times I’ve learned to laugh and admit that my mind just took a brief vacation. Well Rocky is doing things like that too. He will start toward his food bowl and suddenly stop, look around, maybe lick himself then walk away. The food is totally forgotten.

He’ll attack my arm at 4 am. When I turn the light on he blinks, looks confused and gently removes his claws. I know he doesn’t realize what he’s doing. Maybe he was dreaming I was a big mouse.

Rocky’s Lap Cat moments

You’ve all heard the jokes about the pet owner who can’t move because it would disturb the pet. Well Rocky the lap cat has turned me into one of those! Rocky follows me around and meows-loudly (Maybe he’s going deaf too?) Once I sit down I don’t even have time to settle myself before he is clambering into my lap. Once there he settles in for the duration. Heaven help me if I need to go to the bathroom! I’ve learned to keep the cell phone close at hand so I don’t have to disturb him to answer the phone. Once he’s settled in he doesn’t move. His Tail doesn’t even twitch!  He’s so quiet sometimes I check to be sure he’s still breathing.

Well Loved and Loyal

Rocky has been a loyal pet and returned my love in full measure. If he acts a little strange now or wants to be held, who am I to deny him. I can delay that shopping trip or luncheon if it gives us a little more time together. I hope we have a few more years but I realize that every day is a gift when you have a senior pet.

Tiny Rocky in 2001