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Well Utila has now become my longest stop, not because it's my favourite place, it has just turned out that way with bad tummy affecting play on the diving front, and planning the next stage. I met up with old friends here, Ashley and Nicki (boys) and Jamie (a girl) who I met in Caye Caulker and our paths crossed once again on Utila. The boys and I will be continuing on together to make the 2 day journey to Nicaragua, and I will be saying goodbye for now to my partner in crime Suzie who's heading back to work in Antigua. We've been travelling together for 3 weeks - that's a long term relationship round here!
The objective of the trip to Utila was to learn to dive, something I've wanted to do for so long but had never quite got round to. Since I love swimming, I had high hopes for scuba diving. The first part of the course is incredibly dull as you watch the PADI theory DVDs which are not only full of essential diving theory but also PADI propaganda about how diving can change your life etc etc. I kid you not, one of the exam questions was 'Why is the PADI continuing education programme important?' Answer, to go places, do things, meet people. Very cheesy - had I had any classmates I'm sure we'd have been dishing out the high 5s to each other but alas I was alone on my course! But I played the game, passed the theory and was let loose into confined water, kneeling 2m down in a tiny swimming pool. I managed all the skills without any issue, but was incredibly uncomfortable down there and had to give myself a good talking to almost all the time I was underwater. My instructor Vanessa was great and had a very calming influence and I got through it, but really didn't enjoy the experience and wondered what the hell I was doing trying to breathe underwater, it's just not natural. And so it was with big nerves and to be honest, quite a sense of dread that I attacked day 2 which involved actually getting out in the open water. But I believe in sometimes pushing myself outside of my comfort zone, and once I was down, I nailed the skills and we had a little swim around the dock, I absolutely loved it. I haven't looked back since and am so chuffed that it has lived up to my expectations and that I no longer get the fear, in fact I find being down there completely liberating. Snowboarding, surfing and now scuba, my loyalties are divided....I love them all! I probably would have continued onto my advanced course had my digestion allowed but I had a couple of days break from diving when going out on a small boat for 3-4 hours was not in my best interests or that of my fellow divers.....all in good time for the advanced course.
And to be honest, there isn't too much more to say about Utila, having been feeling a little under the weather I haven't made the most of the few other things to do here but have learned (and fallen in love with) doing something new and, well, just relaxed. I suspect it will be a far cry from my next Hondurean stop, we cannot get to Nicaragua in one day so will have to stop overnight in Tegucigalpa, the fume filled capital which will be interesting.
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