Dive No.: 1989 Dive Site: Koko Craters, Oahu, Hawaii Max Depth: 38ft/11m Total Time: 36 mins Air: 200bar – 140 bar Mix: EANx36 Tank: 80cu Weight: 8lbs Visibility: 80ft/24m Water: 75F/24C Exposure: Rash Guard, 5mm full wet suit, 3mm skull cap Comments: What better way to start off an Open Water course than with a super-chill turtle cruising with the group for the first ten minutes? This particular turtle looked so relaxed cruising in the mild current and let my divers approach him within mere feet. I was even able to swim underneath him inverted and gently blow bubbles against him belly without him minding in the least. There were also a handful of snake eels, lizardfish, and pufferfish to » read more «

Dive No.: 1985 Dive Site: Corsair, Oahu, Hawaii Max Depth: 108ft/32m Total Time: 26 mins Air: 200bar – 120 bar Mix: air Tank: 63cu Weight: 8lbs Visibility: 130ft/40m Water: 73F/23C Exposure: Rash Guard, 5mm full wet suit, 3mm skull cap Comments: The visibility was jaw-dropping on this dive. We could see the entire wreck of the Corsair from the surface. The current was fairly strong; using the line was critical during the 100ft/30m ascent and descent. This WWII wreck was packed full of squirrelfish and soldierfish and surrounded by a vast field of garden eels. A handful of morays peeked out from inside the fuselage. I wish my group hadn’t gone through their air so fast, because I would have » read more «

When I left Roatan in October 2009, one of my biggest worries was that I would never get to taste a rum as fine as Flor de Caña again. This sweet Nicaraguan nectar that had graced many a rum and pineapples during my five year Caribbean tenture was a thing to be treasured. The liter that I brought back to the States with me lasted a mere week, and, with the exception of one truly exceptional night in which Lia Barrett and I shared a spectaclar bottle of Flor de Caña Centenario 21, I was never to taste her again. I tried to compensate for my loss with various other substitutions. Sailor Jerry’s remained my favorite of the commercially available » read more «

Dive No.: 1983 Dive Site: Two Minutes Out, Oahu, Hawaii Max Depth: 52ft/16m Total Time: 42 mins Air: 200bar – 130 bar Mix: air Tank: 80cu Weight: 8lbs Visibility: 60ft/18m Water: 75F/24C Exposure: Rash Guard, 5mm full wet suit, 3mm skull cap Comments: My first dive guiding certified divers on Hawaii! This was a gentle cruise around an urchin-covered ledge where many eels poked their heads out from tiny crevices. Two turtles swam in slow circles around the descent line at the start of the dive. I also spotted a tiny leaf scorpionfish, a enormous queen conch, and the pivoting eyes of a mantis shrimp hidden in its hole. Dive No.: 1984 Dive Site: Turtles, Oahu, Hawaii Max Depth: 42ft/12m » read more «