We have settled into camp, and the weather still is not cooperating. We are four dives behind now. We are getting used to doing underwater surveys. Our assignment was recently changed from fish counting to counting coral diseases and reef damage (it is a cake walk compared to the fish). The team as a whole is still not gelling, a disappointment for me. We are also constantly waiting on the staff, often an hour or more – very frustrating. Things are also going wrong constantly, boat motors breaking, missing buoys, not enough full tanks, etc, so it is generally slow going when the weather is good. Lee and I are holding our own, impressive, since the average diver on the team has over 200 dive s and Lee and I have about 20. Our buoyancy is improving at lightspeed (buoyancy for diving means the ability to use your air and breath to not float up or down, but remain at the desired depth – really important when you are working very close to fragile (and sharp coral).
The meals remain a struggle. They changed the cooks just before the expedition and now serve typical Honduran meals, think rice and beans with fat meat thrown in on occasion. We are making it work, but often look at our plate longingly after a day of diving.
They will be filming Survivor Latin America here two days after we leave. The crews are here getting ready. It is actually quite a busy place between film crews, tourist and the like.
For those following my heath (Forrest here), I have recovered incredible well from my recent ER visit and although have an occasional bad morning, have been doing ok despite the meals. Thank god we stopped at a grocery store and brought a half of duffle bag of snacks. Lee has been struggling with the sand flies, nothing seems to stop them from biting. He looks like a pin cushion.
Well, time for bed. It is late (past 9pm). I will write another update in a few days.
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