I wrote this several days ago, but continuing laptop and hotmail problems have resulted in a late adventure, but hopefully all is well now. Well here we are at day? I sit back and think about it and I have been here almost two weeks. It is hard to believe how fast time is flying by.

The past few days have been really productive. Last week was the best turnout for CEA lectures in awhile. The original flyer that Tabatha and I created has been updated by Kate and Tab and seems to be introducing tourists to The CEA Center. It is really great to see the people enjoy the lectures and all the various displays we have to offer here.

There is a buzz of excitement about the future of the Akumal Reef Protection Project and things are slowly, but surely, falling into place. Hey, get the word out that if you visit Mexico, you have to come to Akumal and Centro Ecológico, it really is the place to be. Call beforehand though because there are a lot of volunteers here and space is limited.

Yesterday Greg and I spent the day in Cancun running errands. We had plenty to do and everything ran really smoothly (an eerie uncommon occurrence here). We even made it to the movie with minutes to spare. A new theatre to Cancun with AC turned low, extra large popcorn and leather reclining chairs. Wow! Star Wars was great and Yoda kicks butt. After the movie we had Chinese food for dinner. This was an interesting change to the chicken tacos, homemade nachos and salsa, and agua that have sustained me for the past few weeks. Well like I said everything ran smoothly until… Alex's (my brother for those who do not know) plane was delayed one and a half hours. We decided instead of waiting for the wayward plane we would finish our shopping at the local Wal-Mart, they have those here, along with Sam's Club, Costco, Burger King, and McDonalds. You cannot escape the US. Greg: "That decadent capitalistic influence." After finalizing our purchases we went back to the airport. At first I did not recognize Alex with the new do. He is the smart one, short hair is the way to go in this climate.

On our way home we experienced a tire blowout at 65mph, which Greg skillfully handled. We quickly unloaded all Alex's luggage, the groceries, supplies and coolers. Luckily our Mexican guardian angel stopped in his Volkswagen bus. He supplied us with a nice jack and a quality lug wrench. Thank you whoever and wherever you are, it can be pretty hairy standing in the breakdown lane. For those who may drive in Mexico in the future the breakdown lane is used as a turning lane and path for slower vehicles to move over while faster vehicles pass.

Tabatha has been really excited about diving. Each day she tells me about fish or turtle that she saw. She even spotted a four-foot nurse shark in Half Moon Bay just North of Akumal. I am envious because I have only seen one shark in my 70+ my dives in this area. The shark was very cooperative and allowed the dive master to rub its dorsal fin this was a great dive experience, especially for a new diver. Reel in the line, I do believe she is hooked on the whole diving scene. Maybe when I get back I will have a new buddy/volunteer for the Chesapeake Bay oyster restoration project. I doubt it though, the visibility just isn't the same and those people who have experienced the tropics to begin with do not know what a real dive is.

Greg and I had a productive dive on Friday in Aventuras Akumal the next bay south. The dive plan to collect water samples at various depths, and look for signs of obvious water pollution from the caleta that runs under the dump. We did not find the exit for the groundwater, but Greg successfully sampled six depths and I videotaped a large Hawksbill feeding on a sponge. I completed my second dive with steel double tanks for a bottom time well over an hour. My computer registered my first decompression dive. Three extra minutes at 15 feet, not much for the experienced deep diver, but this is new to me.

Some time later this week we will dive the "wall" located about 400 yards off shore. This will be a 150 foot + dive for me and a 200 foot + for Greg. We hope to find where the groundwater flows into the ocean. Reliable sources claim that there is a swirling ball of trash and in interesting cyanobacteria growth along the wall. We are not sure about the location, but will do some exploring.

HEY I RECEIVED THE FINAL COMPONENTS FOR MY PROJECT TODAY. THANKS TO SAMANTHA AND BILL FOR ALL THEIR HELP IN EXPEDITING THE SHIPPING PROCESS. You guys put up with a lot of stuff to make it happen. Whatever you did Monday worked with a two-day delivery time. Amazing. Big video dive in the jungle scheduled for today. More adventures soon!!

See Ya
Steve, Alex and Tabatha
For part 6 click here