Well, it’s official. We are DIVEMASTERS……in name, if not in ability……SMILE.
We finishe
d the skills test, stress test, and DM leader test on Friday. It was a stormy day, and West Bay looked more like Mendocino than the Caribbean. Sofia put us through our paces, and at one point had us buddy breathing, masks filled with sand, 
and tied up with string in the middle of our underwater equipment exchange. This skill could have been completed the day before in much more kind seas had we gotten along better-smile.
After we finished the last few requirements, and achieved DM certification, we ran into Coxen Hole to buy Halloween costumes. The party was at the pool bar (now called Oasis), and we have become good acquaintances with the owners (Mark and Joanie). When we arrived at Oasis, the news of our DM status had reached them, and they both gave us big hugs, and started chanting “Snorkel Test!!! Snorkel Test!!!”
Evidently, we weren’t QUITE done with the (unofficial) tests just yet. Midway through the party, Mal and Sofia joined Mark and Joanie behind the bar, a
nd announced to the packed crowd that it was time for a Snorkel Test. Many of the patrons are divers so they knew all to well what was coming. Mal and Sofia set up two chairs behind the bar, and brought out the snorkel test apparatus. To the top of a snorkel, a 2-liter coke bottle with the bott
om cut out had been taped. We were given our mask and snorkel, and told to sit in the chairs. From the back room, Mal and Sofia emerged with pitchers of brownish concoctions. We were told later that it’s a customized, secret potion…..complete with anything and everything from the bar.
With the crowd shouting encouragement, and a few derogatory comments about my manhood, we put on the mask, and put the snorkel in our mouths. The countdown to doom commenced. We both drained about half a pitcher each before near-gacking. But, we had to pass the test, so we put the snorkel back in our mouths and kept chugging. We passed…..just barely.
So, with all our tests now complete, we head for Costa Rica to lick our wounds and relax
with our friends Kurt and Linda. Grateful to the kind people we have come to know and missWe finishe
d the skills test, stress test, and DM leader test on Friday. It was a stormy day, and West Bay looked more like Mendocino than the Caribbean. Sofia put us through our paces, and at one point had us buddy breathing, masks filled with sand, 
and tied up with string in the middle of our underwater equipment exchange. This skill could have been completed the day before in much more kind seas had we gotten along better-smile.After we finished the last few requirements, and achieved DM certification, we ran into Coxen Hole to buy Halloween costumes. The party was at the pool bar (now called Oasis), and we have become good acquaintances with the owners (Mark and Joanie). When we arrived at Oasis, the news of our DM status had reached them, and they both gave us big hugs, and started chanting “Snorkel Test!!! Snorkel Test!!!”
Evidently, we weren’t QUITE done with the (unofficial) tests just yet. Midway through the party, Mal and Sofia joined Mark and Joanie behind the bar, a
nd announced to the packed crowd that it was time for a Snorkel Test. Many of the patrons are divers so they knew all to well what was coming. Mal and Sofia set up two chairs behind the bar, and brought out the snorkel test apparatus. To the top of a snorkel, a 2-liter coke bottle with the bott
om cut out had been taped. We were given our mask and snorkel, and told to sit in the chairs. From the back room, Mal and Sofia emerged with pitchers of brownish concoctions. We were told later that it’s a customized, secret potion…..complete with anything and everything from the bar.
With the crowd shouting encouragement, and a few derogatory comments about my manhood, we put on the mask, and put the snorkel in our mouths. The countdown to doom commenced. We both drained about half a pitcher each before near-gacking. But, we had to pass the test, so we put the snorkel back in our mouths and kept chugging. We passed…..just barely.
So, with all our tests now complete, we head for Costa Rica to lick our wounds and relax
on Roatan.
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