• Research accommodations suitable for his clients' preferences,
• Research Dive Operators who best match his clients' experience levels and preferences,
• Research Dive Sites in both the Speyside and Crown Point areas,
• Certify PADI OW Referral dives for two clients,
• Become familiar with Tobago's offerings—food, sights, environment.
• [I wanted to check out the fish. And a forest filled with birds!]

His clients, on their return trip flew American. They spent a day in the Puerto Rican airport because American's plane fell apart. American didn't have any spare parts available! He feels BWIA had made a tremendous leap forward in service, personnel attitude and scheduling since their privatization. Our direct flight back was within schedule parameters and they didn't ding up our luggage! My cat litter arrived intact.

Airline scheduling!—flights depart early-morning—we could not do a morning dive the day before, so offgassed by driving around most of Tobago's perimeter. The driveway-wide highway made many 90+deg. turns up and down short hills. We constantly watched for oncoming vehicles. He pushed his defensive driving skills to the limit! I tumbled from the dashboard on more than one occasion. Even if you rent a car, always choose transportation when offered by others.

We had lunches at local restaurants and enjoyed typical island cuisine. Flying fish sandwiches on dark bread are incredibly good! Meeooooooow...Purr....... Evenings after 2 or 3 dives per day, found us at excellent recommended restaurants, and others which looked promising. Notable among these are—

• Peacock Mill (we were too late to see the peacocks walking around—darn!—they were sleeping in the trees and I was on a leash!),
• Seahorse (within easy walking distance from where we stayed), and
• Rouselle's (where hostess, Bobbi, told us where we could purchase the candle-holding centerpiece she uses on all her tables).

At the time, Goran used only the "fast" boats which necessitate a backward-roll entry for my master. I was unceremoniously dropped over the side. He carries drinking water, oxygen, VHF radio, GPS, Depth Sounder, Medic First Aid, and cover to provide shade. These boats are the "fannybanger" variety and I almost bounced overboard several times. Other divers got upset when I used my claws and held onto their BCs. However, these boats are designed for Tobago sea conditions and are very seaworthy. Some prefer a sideways-roll entry—this works fine on this type boat.

Goran will move with the trend—use a larger, more-comfortable boat. After much research, he has not found the right one for Tobago waters. He may build a motorized cat (hmmmm....cat?), which will serve as a dive boat and a very comfortable tour boat for land-lubbers.

A word about Tobago dive conditions. There are a few sheltered sites which work fine for the newly-certified. With Goran's suggestions, it was not difficult certifying two clients PADI Open Water Referral—although the first two dives were shore dives. Oh...but what a lot of fish...I almost got one!

Tobago diving is for the intermediate/advanced diver. There are some dive sites where a minimum 60 logged dives is a prerequisite—6-knot plus current, 8-foot waves plus, strong surge and surf breaking on rocks/coral within several hundred feet from islands' rocky shorelines. Toward the end of a dive off Speyside, we hit a downcurrent which took us from 15fsw to 45fsw in several seconds—our bubbles went down!

We had an exceptional Portuguese captain, Bryan. He knows his boat, the sites, and anticipates changing conditions. He is extremely helpful getting divers ready for entry and exit...and safety-conscious too! It would seem some cultures—Greek, Scandinavian and Portuguese—are genetically programmed masters of the seas. And...he brought along a tin of sardines...just for me! I am genetically programmed to enjoy fish...and birds!

Both Divemaster, Ryan, and Instructor, Amanda, provided helpful, safe underwater tours, giving just the right attention to individual buddy teams. Amanda is the first female Tobagonian PADI instructor. It is not surprising Viking Dive & Yacht Consult has maintained an impeccable safety record over the years. They also dive the Speyside sites.

Dive 3–5/13—Flying Reef—56fsw for 51min. Really my third dive for the day—2 earlier ones were cert. dives for clients. This was a medium speed drift dive. I chased a school of "Big Eyed Fairies"—copper-colored fish which look like small groupers. Parrot fish were too busy eating the reef and only mumbled at me. Many different fish were teasing me. Very relaxing and rewarding dive! I caught my first fish! Don't tease this dive kitty...

Dive 1–5/14—Mt. Irvine Wall—65fsw for 58min. Drift dive along the wall which extends down from the shore, with coral fingers. Angels, eels, lobster and urchins. When I chased lobster...they kept retreating into holes where I couldn't follow! A huge school of silversides kept around me but just out of my reach. A long dive with many surprises around every corner.

Dive 2–5/14—Scarlett Ibis Wreck—90fsw for 27min. Long surface interval, not "pushing" computer limits. Making it a multi-level dive with several safety stops made this day's reverse profile dive reasonably safe. Tobago's first artificial reef, the wreck was cleaned up, made safe, and purposely sunk in 1997. It rests on a sandy bottom at 100fsw. Growth is coming along fine. Easily, safely penetrate the upper portion - the area above the car deck on this once-used ferry. A Jewfish named "George" (aka Jacob and Jo-Jo) and a large, 7-foot barracuda named "Sara" (I like her other name—"Snaggletooth") have taken up residence and seem a happy couple. I was apprehensive of George...he could swallow me whole! I hid behind my master. George met us at the anchor line and accompanied us on our tour, while Sara seemed busy with her housework—er.....wreckwork?

Instructor Rachael serves as divemistress. Anushka, Assist. Instructor, shares leading dive groups with John and Rachael. We had an excellent 3-dive day with them at their Speyside location (they also dive the Pigeon Point sites). Their new rental gear includes new tanks—both 80's and 63's. I always bring along my own Pony Bottle...just enough air for me. Briefings were complete and excellent. Every diver received the proper attention/support. Safety, and having a comfortable, relaxing, exciting dive were paramount. And they like cats...I scored some fresh fish from them.

John follows the new millennium trend—dive in tune with Nature rather than challenge Nature. The boat ride up from Pigeon Point to Speyside reveals spectacular scenery. But the seas were a little rough in-between, and we were driven to Speyside. During the day, the seas acted up more—the captain returned to Pigeon Point the following morning when seas are usually calmer.

Dive 1–5/15—Keleston Drain—86fsw for 42min. Nice drift dive over beautiful, healthy reef. Many tempting fish, brain coral, seagrapes. Dive ended near the world's largest known brain coral (GOMOTS—Grand Old Man of the Sea). I liked him...I could feel him "thinking." He liked me too...

Dive 2–5/15—Cascadia—82fsw for 46min. Near Bird of Paradise Island. Small moray eel living in barrel sponge. Long, pointy sea urchins with black spines, white spines and mixed white/black spines. Parrotfish, angels—mostly Queens and French. A downcurrent took us from 15fsw to about 45fsw in a a few seconds. Was considering putting a little air into my BCD but instead kicked towards surface as downcurrent weakened. Waves breaking against coral heads and walls at the surface. Great variety on this drift dive. Reminded me a little of the washing machine at home...with all sorts of swirls.

Dive 3–5/15—Japanese Gardens/Kamikaze Cut/Angel Reef—68fsw for 33min. After going ashore for lunch and a long surface interval, we got an excellent briefing for our third and final dive. We entered the very colorful Japanese Gardens area. We drifted and positioned ourselves for a current rush through Kamikaze Cut. We explored the other side—Angel Reef. Sea urchins, barracuda, triggerfish.

There are some questionable operators on Tobago, likely not affiliated with any organization. They hang their sign along the roadway and take anybody out...maybe even dogs! I felt like scratching them...and I hissed at them as we drove by. Reputable operators work more closely together in their island association. They are undergoing normal growing pains during their developmental stage. Had we more time, we would have dived with a few other operators. We look forward to our next Tobago dive adventure.

Ready to dive Tobago? Let us know—
Fin immediately over to—Tobago Dive Adventures.

Why is Tobago a world-class dive destination?

• The Guyana Current moves slowly up the eastern coast of South America, divides around Trinidad and washes the south and east coasts of Tobago. Fed by the Orinoco River, the water is warm and rich in nutrients, ideally suited to sustain a wide range of marine life. Many deep sea fish are found here much closer to the surface than normal. Divers have little difficulty sighting barracudas, dolphins, whale sharks and turtles as well as manta rays. Smaller fish abound—butterfly fish, Queen and French angels, damsels, parrotfish, grunts. Rarer species such as tarpon and trigger fish are regular residents.
  
• A mainly volcanic island, with green hills falling steeply into the sea, below the surface the cliffs form rocky canyons, underwater tunnels, deep and shallow caves. The currents drift past sheer walls and giant rock-faces. Every known species of hard coral and most of the soft corals—as well as the world's largest known brain coral, 12–feet high and 16–feet across, dwarfing the divers who explore it, are found here.
  
• The visibility regularly reaches 130–150 feet and 40 feet is considered a really bad day.

Diving!—Divers and underwater photographers are enthralled with the visibility of Tobago's waters. Water is in constant motion and the corals gorge themselves on the abundant nutrients becoming large, healthy, colorful gardens where one can become lost in wonder and meditation drifting effortlessly with the current.

Most dive sites are about a 15– to 20–minute boat ride away. The small, fast, safe, relatively comfortable, and very seaworthy boats used by most operators provide short rides and provide very safe, rewarding underwater experience. The exceptional expertise of the DMs is matched by their knowledge, friendliness and ability to work with and guide every level of diver experience.

However, while Tobago's dive sites are better appreciated by the intermediate to advanced diver, there are sufficient sites to enthrall the newly-certified diver. AND, the larger, more comfortable dive boats are beginning to show up amongst Tobago's operators. With the advent of these larger, social boats, the option of a giant stride off a dive platform is provided, instead of only a backward roll entry off the side of a smaller boat.

Weather & Water—Year round air temperature averages—70–90 deg.F. with lows ~60 deg.F. and highs ~90 deg.F. Water temperature ranges between 72 deg.F. to 82 deg.F. Visibility runs between 60 to 130+ feet, and is usually around 90 feet.

Price Validity—All Package Prices are subject to change without notice, unless Paid-In-Full. Changes may be required in the event of increases or decreases in the cost of services imposed by hotels, dive operators, air carriers (if included in package), or other contractors. Government taxes can change at any time.

Air Fare—We provide the lowest air fare from your City of Departure.

• Mt. Irvine Wall—35–70sw, beginner–intermediate, land extends down into the sea, rocks, coral, fingers, caves, crevasses, lobster, crabs, octopus, moray eels, schools of silversides. Great for night dives.
• Flying Reef—40–80fsw, intermediate–advanced 4+–knot drift dive, canyon-like crevasses, cave-like ledges and overhangs, greens, yellows and pinks, giant boulders, rock spires.
• Buccoo Reef—15–30fsw, beginner, shallow, protected reef, many juvenile tropicals and corals.
• Kariwak Reef—15–30fsw, beginner, shallow reef, easy shore dive, many juvenile tropicals and corals.

• Sisters—50–130fsw, intermediate–advanced, maze of canyons and alpine slopes, pinnacles, mantas, eagle rays, barracuda, tarpon, jewfish and shark.
• Keliston Drain—20–80fsw, intermediate, world's largest known brain coral, nurse sharks, mantas.
• London Bridge—30–40fsw, intermediate–advanced, natural arch that extends down 40 feet underwater, water creates sort of a venturi effect and whips you through the arch. On the other side it's calm and filled with large pelagics, schooling tarpons (4–8 foot range).
• Japanese Gardens—30–50fsw, beginner–intermediate, lies off tip of Goat Island, mantas, mild current, very colorful, soft corals, sponges, vases, current sometimes increases and you fly around some corners.

• Manta City—intermediate–advanced
• Blackjack Hole—intermediate–advanced
• Book Ends—intermediate
• Arnos Valebeginner
• Englishman's Bay—beginner–intermediate
• Batteaux Bay—intermediate–advanced
• The Alps—intermediate–advanced
• Scarlett Ibis Wreck—beginner–intermediate
• Angel Reef—beginner–intermediate

Ready to dive Tobago? Let us know—
Fin immediately over to—Tobago Dive Adventures.

Your Opportunity to better understand Universal Love—Explore more your underwater world. Practice your dive skills. Add new skills. Become even more at-one with your underwater surroundings. Become more aware of your immersion within a Universal Love which connects us all...

 Photo by: Fred Altrieth–12/2001
OK! You earned your basic OpenWater C-card. You since have logged quite a few dives. You want more...your next level C-card, AdvancedOpenWater. You are ready.

When you go for your AdvancedOpenWater certification, you will complete 5 special dives. The Deep Dive is requisite for you to dive deeper than 60fsw (feet-sea-water) to the recreational limit of 130fsw. the other requisite dive is Underwater Navigation -- where's the shore/boat, etc.? There are a great number of other dives you can choose from which suit your interests. Drift Dive and Night Dive are always good to know.

Now the fun really begins. No more classes...no more Confined Water Dives where you learned and practiced your basic skills. Just you and maybe a few others and your instructor. Do the Knowledge Reviews at home. Show and discuss these with your instructor. Do the dives under your instructor's supervision. Visit your PADI shop and discuss these with your chosen instructor.

Night Diving is an intense, positive underwater experience. Imagine yourself about 15 to 35 feet below the surface. The full moon shimmers from above. You turn off your dive light. Your eyes adjust to the warm glow from the moon. You carefully pass various fish who sleep throughout the night. You watch all the various corals feed. You notice many creatures out and about which hide or sleep during the day. You are suspended in warm water almost the same temperature as your body. You allow yourself to drift back to that time your mother carried you. You feel yourself embraced by a Universal Love...

When you surface, your viewpoint has changed. You feel more alive... More in-tune... More secure... You grasp more the non-verbalized Universal Love...binding together all creatures including our own species.

Seek more training and purchase more equipment. Safely and comfortably venture below for extended periods. Become more relaxed. Receive greater enlightenment. Choose PADI's Night Dive as part of your next certification level.

In this article, Part 3 of a 7-part series, you discovered how you can better experience Universal Love and bring it back to your surface world.

Part 4 of this 7-part series will help you become a more aware adventurer. You will get more into the Spirit of diving...a positive change in your attitude as you embrace more fully your familiar underwater world.

Dive S.A.F.E.,
Robert Keeney—
PADI OpenWaterScubaInstructor

Your Onboard Experience—From the moment you step aboard this charming, elegant vessel into the circular marble lobby— expect a relaxed yet refined cruising experience. Walls of glass and spacious open decks bring the world around you to your fingertips. There is plenty of space in which to roam, jog or just sit and enjoy the sun. A multi-level sun deck area around the new pool is wonderfully sheltered from the wind when at sea. And the open deck space!

Intimate nooks in the Rendezvous lounge entice you to indulge in a romantic interlude. Try your luck in the casino, enjoy a fabulous show in the comfortable Stardust Lounge, dance the night away in the Dazzles disco. The Norwegian Wind has some idiosyncrasies since being stretched—that include walking through public rooms and up and down stairs to get from one end to the other. But it makes it more fun to find your way around. Shop, workout in the fitness centre, indulge in a massage, zap some golf balls or toss some baskets. It's all here for your pleasure. And your kids will like it too. Especially the video arcade and special programs available for both youngsters and teens. Don't forget the midnight buffets and the formal Captain's cocktail party—a perfect opportunity to dress up.

Indulge the picturesque landscape of the Western Caribbean aboard Norwegian Wind January 24, 2004 $599 Best Available Oceanview stateroom. Category G-C.

Cruise Saturday to Saturday. Your Dive and Shore Excursions are extra. Itinerary—

• Miami
• at sea
• Grand Cayman
• Roatan
• Belize
• Cozumel
• at sea
• Miami

Note: You must show your C-card and have dived in the past two years to participate. Divers under 18 must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Dive sites may be changed because of weather or sea conditions.

Note: You must be a certified diver to participate. Equipment may be rented from the dive operator at a nominal charge.

Dive In Scuba—Captain's Choice—Cozumel—Certified scuba divers will love the incredible reefs of Cozumel, part of the second largest barrier reef system in the world. A professional local operator takes you by boat for a two-tank dive on these famous reefs, made up of beautiful coral and sponge formations. You may see hundreds of fish, from colorful small varieties to huge grouper and parrotfish. It is not unusual to see stingrays and turtles. You will return from the dive with plenty of time to shop or explore the rest of Cozumel.

Note: You must be a certified scuba diver and have dived in the past two years. Tanks and weights are included. Other equipment may be rented from dive operator.

Port Of Spain Gazette Virgin Islands May 1870