USNWC Adventure Series

Spent the last few Wednesdays at the US National Whitewater Center. Had great fun exploring the water, trails and ropes at the center of adventure in the region. The close out of the series www.usnwc.net

Advanced Wilderness Life Support

Spent the weekend with some of the country's best willderness medical experts getting my AWLS certification. Hosted by the Appalachian Wilderness Center, the group of more than 30 went thru senarios and life saving techniques used in the wilderness.

An amazing assembly of medical professionals both as instructors and as students in the mountains of western North Carolina...an ER doctor from Harvard with Everest experience, numerous military personnel, a heart surgeon from the New England, paramedics from Greenville, a physical therapist, an orthopedic surgeon, an MD just back from a stint in Ethiopia, and a Paramedic from 'down under' in the room and everything in between.

Arguably one of the most interesting exchanges was between the instructors and a student. The subject was dressing cavity wounds. The discussion involved somewhat new technology to acheive hemostasis. To stop the bleeding at the source using quick clotting gauze and powder. Based on studies done the quick clot gauze proved highly effective in stopping the bleeding. A young man, who was obviously just home from the war in Afghanistan, rebutted all the technology with his gear that he uses when he goes out on patrol. A few rolls of gauze and an ACE bandage. Saving lives with gauze and ACE bandage!

Learned a great deal and realize again how much more I don't know.

Roatan Close Out

I prepared a summary presentation of some of the incredible images from the trip to Roatan.

Click on the link below, sit back, relax, turn up the sound and enjoy this escape.

Roatan August 2009

082909 Roatan Final Pics

Roatan 082909 Wrap

An amazing week of diving. Met and dove with some wonderful people. Here are some images that are a taste of the 1700+ images. Credit for some of these goes to Ron Hyatt. Actually, the best ones you can bet were from Ron. A great diver and an accomplished photographer. It was a pleasure, Ron. Thanks for the pics!

Roatan 082809 Valley of the Kings

It was another amazing day of diving. Was in the water at 5:20am for a morning dip. A nice dive to start the day. The critters were out and it was a great way to start our last day. The boat left for the Valley of the Kings. Another crack in the reef wall about 90 feet at the exit. Another head first dive straight into the reef floor at 35 feet. A hard right and then the decent into the crevass that opened up at 60 feet but dropped to 90. I baled out at 78 feet to conserve my air for the remainder of the dive. The most amazing event was a 'herd' of squid. After the octopus last night, I was not sure I could top that. But a herd, band, bundle... of squid floated right in front of us. Probably two dozen little green critters with big eyes, float by. They were as curious as we were. The boat drop was to the Prince Albert where I connected with a fellow to dive the airplane wreck and then look for a cool fish he had seen the day before. Paydirt! Great dive... then back to camp to dry out gear and pack up for the trip home in the AM.

082709 Roatan Dolphins and Octopus

The day started with a 5AM dive. Three of us went out to see all kinds of fish looking for breakfast. We ran across a potential dinner in a very large lobster. We passed by quietly. Then to Pirates Point for the morning dive. A largely dead coral bed. It reminded me of a forest that was coming back from a forest fire. Only the coral bed suffered because of an earthquake. Just the same it is coming back. We saw another seahorse, trumpet fish and scorpion fish. I skipped the drop off dive to go for the dolphin dive. With tanks and scuba gear we went to 60 feet to interact with the dolphins. They reminded me of our greyhounds. Fast sleek and just wanting to run and have fun. Amazing creatures. The 'institute' has 23 dolphins with the recent addition of two new babies. Returning to 'camp' we pulled on the tanks and went for a night dive before dinner. The ocean floor lights up at night and lots of creatures come out for dinner. Lots of cucumbers seem to be oozing from the walls. The highlight was the octopus we ran across. Amazing colors and defenses it showed as we stopped to look and cpater the images.