Caribbean Underwater Discoveries Voyage
Life on Bulloo, by Kimberly O
At first I was filled with misgivings and doubts about my decision to come to a land foreign to me, to learn to scuba dive. Was I crazy? All the dangers; having to befriend new people, and the extensive learning that I would have to undergo. It all seemed so scary and so unlike me. But boy was I wrong. Yeah when I first arrived I was nervous about meeting new people and afraid that they wouldn’t like me. Not to mention having to learn something new; I was afraid I wouldn’t end up enjoying myself. But some of the best memories of my life now come from those 3 weeks I spent aboard the boat Bulloo on my UWD13 trip in the Caribbean.
I learned so much, not only about scuba diving but also about myself and the amazing beauty of the world, our world. I learned to love the ocean, the amazing ecosystems that survive within it, its vastness and its power over human beings. I learned to love myself better than ever. I learned that I can do things that were unimaginable to me before, that my dreams are closer within my reach than I ever believed possible.
All this and more I gained in just three short weeks spent in an amazing place with some very amazing people (students and instructors). I have so many unforgettable memories; from helping rescue a hatchling turtle and watching it swim free out into the big ocean to face the world, to jumping into the water for the first time in my scuba gear and feeling the exhilarating rush as I descended to the ocean floor for the first time, to spending time at the helm with the wind in the sails and nothing but beautiful ocean expanse for miles. Moreover, the trip allowed me to build special bonds with my instructors and new friends. These bonds will forever bring us together, no matter how many miles are physically between us.
Life on Bulloo became a ritual, a normalcy to me over the weeks. All too soon it came to an end. As I lay under the beautiful stars on our last night, I reflected on my friends, the amazing diving, and the small things; like the rocking of the boat at night which gently put me to sleep, the gestures of kindness between people that so much helped make a bad day good again, sitting on the deck of the boat watching a beautiful sunset, or a dinner together with the 15 other people aboard my boat sharing the glums and glows of the day.
Everything about Bulloo became special to me. I will never forget this amazing trip; the beautiful islands we visited and explored, the wonderful people, the amazing ocean, reefs, and marine life, and the changes it brought about in me. I love you Bulloo, I love you UWD13, and I will never forget you!
Signing off, Kimberly O
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