Aug 31, 2009
Scuba certification dives # 1 and #2.
We rented a van and follow the dive shop guys out the west end of the island for our first scuba diving experience. On the drive out to the west end of the Island we noticed that this was the poor section of the Island. The beach was full of squatters who have made their plot of sand home in either makeshift materials or wrecked cars that they rolled on to the beach and provides shelter during inclement weather which is quite infrequent. The general attitude in the area is somewhat hostile towards white folk as this area possesses the worst agricultural land and climate on the island. When the Americans first took possession of Hawaii as a state in 1959, they relocated many of the native Hawaiians to this part of the island as a resettlement plan. The bitterness of being displaced and relocated against their will still remains and unless you are diving in the area, I would suggest you skip or avoid it.
During the first dive, Emily buddied up with the Dive Master named Kevin. He was particularly impressed with Emily’s take charge attitude and overall enthusiasm for the sport. Especially when she was showing most of us adults how to properly assemble our equipment prior to our descent. I think he was feeling some pressure to impress her or humble her we are not sure which.
Once we were descending to the bottom of the seabed, he took out his diving knife and proceeded to the bottom and swam to an orange rock outcropping which was rather pourous. He poked at it and out swam a small octopus spewing his black ink and attempting to dart away. Kevin carefully handled the Octupus and led it over to Emily who had eyes the size of saucers. Mission accomplished, Emily was more than a little impressed and couldn’t get enough.