Utila – Week 4, Day 1: Shark-Sucking Sidekicks
UTILA
Week 4
Day 1: Shark-Sucking Sidekicks
December 04, 2022
Taking pity on us divemaster trainees, Tammy decided to organise a few fun dives – despite there being no new clients. I signed up for it the second she made the announcement. Apart from the fact that I still needed to reach my quota of 60 dives, I had no idea when the next dive would be if the dry spell continued!
We’d be diving with Dr Marius – something I was looking forward to, considering how many things he had pointed out during our previous dive. I can confirm he didn’t disappoint. Our first dive was at Jack Neil Point, where we got to see all kinds of fish – from cowfish and trumpetfish to scrawled filefish and groupers. With his trusted wand, Marius would point out anything and everything. He also taught us the hand signal for two sea cucumbers, which let’s just say is quite a vulgar albeit entertaining one.
Our second dive at Bando Beach was nothing short of incredible too. He took us to the coral nursery – a sand patch filled with artificial trees made from PVC. Each branch had a few pieces of baby coral attached to it which, he explained, would later be transplanted onto the reefs once they’re big enough. All part of an effort to restore the world’s coral ecosystems. Right on!
As cool as that might have been, what really stole the show was the remora that showed up during our safety stop. Also known as sharksuckers, these wonders of nature have a modified dorsal fin that acts as a sucker which they use to hitch a ride on larger marine animals – or, on occasion, even divers (as evidenced by the mark it left on my leg). This is thought to be a type of mutualism whereby the fish gets a lift while eating away at any parasites they might have clinging onto their bodies. So, so cool!
Brownie Points and Mixed Signals
In other news, Andreas signed up for his PADI Open Water course and would be starting the following day – an excellent opportunity for me to assist and tick more stuff off the unending list of tasks. He also brought me a brownie, earning him, well… brownie points.
After a few days, I’d grown more accustomed to having him around, and now that he’d be diving too, his constant presence seemed to be getting less on my nerves. He’d occasionally try and sneak a kiss here and there, but I tried not to give him mixed signals – I didn’t want him thinking I wanted something more than just friendship.
I felt terrible – mostly cause I had been kind of a tease and lured him all the way to Utila to spend more time together. Then, when he eventually showed up, I was closed for business and shut him out. Everyone else was busy living their best Utilan love story, now I could be too. Thing is, I really didn’t want to. And I didn’t even know why.
Stay wild,
Marius
Post-Scriptum
My mentor Fleur and I agreed that she had to give me at least one compliment a day. Didn’t have to be anything major – just something that showed she approves of me. It could be something as simple as “You’re beautiful!”. I needed any praise I could get given that my skills were still questionable at best.