La Digue, Whale Sharks, and the Most Amazing Experience I've Had in the Water

Hey, sorry I haven't updated this in so long. Using the internet continues to be challenging here, especially as the internet cafes frequently aren't open according to the hours posted on the door. (When I asked about this, I was told, "It's an island thing.") The connections are very slow, so my mom is going to add links for me to this post. Also, sorry about the lack of pictures - I don't yet have a good way to download them. But the links should have pictures of lots of the things I'm seeing.

I'm on an excursion to La Digue, which is a smaller and less developed granitic island than Mahe. There are almost no motorized vehicles on the island and everyone gets around by bicycle and oxcart. You can read about it and see some photos here and here. Many divers feel like this area has some of the best diving in the world - and so far I'm inclined to agree. I thought that the diving around Mahe was incredible, but this makes it look boring by comparison - it's probably 100 times better.

We went out on a boat towards one of the dive sites they frequent, and on the way, we saw a school of 4 whale sharks. Whale sharks are rare, and even many very experienced divers have never seen them; one of the guys diving with us has been diving for over 30 years, and he said he has never seen anything like it. We instantly popped on our fins and snorkels, and for the next half hour swam around with them. They are gigantic - maybe 5 or 6 meters long, but entirely harmless; they don't even have teeth. I rode one for maybe 10 seconds at one point and we probably covered the distance of a football field - they can really move when they want to. It was probably the most amazing experience I've ever had in the water.  I got some pictures, but I have to wait until I get to a better computer to send them - but they are absolutely unbelievable.

I was completely exhausted, and exhilarated, and we hadn't even gone diving yet.

The tank dive at our planned site was amazing as well. There were huge granite formations in the water, and the fish there are so unusual and numerous. We saw gigantic schools of mackerel, bumphead parrot fish (look them up here - they are crazy looking, and about 2 m long) as well as barracuda, and a white tip reef shark. We also saw another giant green sea turtle (I recently saw a rare loggerhead turtle), and some lobsters and nudibranches (they are these beautiful little sea slugs that are amazingly colored). I also found some incredible shells, including probably the biggest conch I have ever seen (it killed me to just leave it there). 

I am making good progress toward my diving certifications. I got my PADI Rescue Diver certificate a week ago and already have more than 45 dives under my belt.

I miss you all. And too bad about the Steelers.

Second week in the Seychelles!

Hi everyone!

So week two in the seychelles has just come to an end, and we just woke up and walked the half hour to the bus and then took the hour bus ride into town.

so far, i'm having an amazing time, aside from missing all of you (especially gina), everything is going well.
Its sunny and beautiful out every single day, and despite the best efforts of my spf 70 sunscreen, even i am ending up tan.
We dive every single day, and sometimes twice a day, and its unbelievable. the feeling of being neutrally bouyant is such a cool and unique feeling- i often feel like I'm in space.

Mostly, right now we dive in groups of 3 kids with one dive instructor on fish spots, where we get tested on identifying the fish underwater. I have to concentrate really hard to pay attention because mostly i just want to swim around and take everything in.

The other day, we went on our first turtle spot and we went diving on our own for the first time. Which was really cool- just two of  us swimming around in the water. I'll update mroe tomorrow, but ive just run out of internet time.

GO STEELERS!

First week (11 days) in Africa

So here are my first impressions of Africa.
From above, mahe, the island i'm living on, looks tiny! its only 40 km long, and it looks way smaller than that when you are coming in on a plane- i thought we would overshoot the airport for sure.
I got picked up on friday at 7:30 in the morning- little did i know that that is a late start here on the island- most days start at 5:45. the dive instructor picked me up- and we drove back to camp. Its actually way nicer than I was expecting- running water, but not hot, and fans in every room. I got there first, and so I have the best bed in the best room- there are three bedrooms, and the one I live in is all the guys- all 6 of us, and I have the bed next to the power outlets which is nice cause now I can charge my ipod.
The diving has been amazing so far- i've seen cuttlefish, rays, a white tip reef shark and tons of other cool fish. we've been memorizing all the species we need to know for the surveys, and its gonna take a little while, but I already know about half of them, but there are still 60 more to go.

So there are only 4 americans- everyone else is british or australian, and between that and the jeeves books im reading, my accent is getting all mucky already. i do not approve, but i caught myself saying reckon today, and i can hear words changing.

I like all the kids here so far (kids isnt really the right word i dont think- most people here are my age or older, but it sort of feels like we're at sleep away camp or something) but I miss you guys all very much. Its been tough working without getting a chance to go into town, but from now on, I'll get into town every saturday at a minimum.
The first time we went diving here, it was super choppy, and i felt seasick, and I felt very uncomfortable in the water because there was a strong current, and i had too much weight on my weight belt, and there was like 30 seconds where I was like holy shit what have you gotten youself into kyle, but since then I've calmed down, and the diving has been amazing, and I'm enjoying it much more now. I already feel way more confortable in the water, and I can only imagine how i'll feel after 6 months of diving every day.

Next week I'll bring my camera and put up all my photos.

Arrived in Africa

After 30 hours or so of travel, I've finally made it to the Seychelles. I tried to sleep as much as possible on the plane rides here, but I still got here very tired, so the first thing I did in my new home for 6 months was take a taxi to my hotel and pass out for 4 hours.
Then I showered, and let me tell you, after 30 hours on a plane, I really, really, needed to shower. When I was waiting in Dubai to get on my last flight, the people next to me in the terminal were visibly bothered by my smell, but the TSA took my deodorant stick out of my carry on bag, so there was nothing I could do about it.
I just took a bus into the main city, Victoria, which was 5 rupees, or about 50 cents. Quite a bargin compared to the 20 bucks a taxi from the airport cost, but I don't think I would have possibly made it onto a bus with all my luggage. Everyone drives on the wrong side of the road here, which is definitely going to take some getting used to. The whole bus ride I kept looking up and thinking, "Oh no, we're on the wrong side of the road!"

I'll update the blog again once I get settled in more, but so far the trip is off to a great start!

And I'm Off!

Here I am standing in line at the Pittsburgh airport waiting to check the large black duffle on the right. To avoid LOTS of big baggage fees, it had to weigh 50 pounds or less. Guess what in weighed in at?

Fifty pounds.

Phew.

But pretty impressive I think how little I'm taking for six months away in a place where shopping is both difficult and expensive. I have that duffle, the larger green backpack on my left (that normally has a frame - took it off for use as a carry-on bag), and a small camelback backpack. Haven't yet thought of anything crucial I've forgotten.

So far all is going well. I've slept most of the way from Pittsburgh to Detroit to Amsterdam to Dubai, where I am now. And all my baggage seems to have come with me so far.

Not much longer until I'm in the Seychelles! I'll post again the next time I have wi-fi.

Last full day in America!

Just finishing getting packed. I feel like I'm mostly ready... although I'm sure once I get several thousand miles away, I'll realize I've forgotten at least one important thing.