Loving the Sport

Today we have a guest blogger


Thanks for the post, Arthur Lawrence

I sure like windsurfing and I fortunately live in one of the best places in the country to do so. I spend pretty much all my weekends out on the water and I don’t really worry about my place anymore since I went to www.SECURITYCHOICE.com and got an alarm. It’s good for the workweek too. Anyway, I found some great friends doing this and it’s better exercise than anything I’ve done in years and aside from the windsurfing board which wasn’t cheap I haven’t really had to spend any money to do this. There are tons of great people out on the water and getting out there for the day usually turns into dinner or beers or something afterwards so it’s really changed my life in a lot of ways! Who knew getting involved in an alternative sport would really brighten up so many aspects of my life out here in California. My advice to anyone reading? Get out there and do something that scares youbecause you never know what will come of it!

Handy tool for when you are on a boat

If you were out hiking, you would take your cell phone, water and a first aid kit. So what would you take if you were going out on a boat? One handy item is a pocket knife and keep it in your pocket. I am not talking about a utility knife that you open boxes with but a study knife capable of cutting through ropes.

Don't keep the pocket knife in your purse or bag, you need to keep it on you. If you fall overboard and should need it, you have it with you. Nothing worse than bringing something you need on a trip and getting separated from it when you need it the most.

Getting artsy

When it comes to water I love it. Cool blues and shimmering water are a turn on for me. It should not surprise me when I come across a beautiful work of art that I am attracted to it. Here is my attraction for today -


It is a mural of sealife made out of glass tiles. It is next to a swimming pool which shows off the work of art beautifully.

More marine biology should be taught in schools

Something that I always thought that should be taught at the high school level is marine biology. Regular biology class has always been geared toward the medical aspect of learning. Sort of getting students ready for the world of doctors and biological sciences. Not everyone is interested in becoming a doctor or nurse. Some of us want something else that does not have to do with medicine.

Then you also get the push for computer science and even computer clubs at school. I use to get sick just getting those club flyers pushing for more technology. People, the more we move towards technology the further we move away from nature. Just look at how the children of today act. They get their life's experiences from TV, movies and video games. Even the Wii simulates real exercise. Next they will come up with a Wii game that simulates swimming for those who can't really swim.

Boy did I go off on a tangent there, from what I would like to see taught in schools to what kids are doing in their spare time. Well, enough ranting for now....I have got to shut the lid on this laptop and go do something outside with nature.....away from technology, at least for a few hours.

Is 16 too young to do anything solo?

If you have been following the news about the 16 year old girl that attempted to sail around the world you would know that her attempt has ended. After a storm left her sail boat's mast broken, she had to end her trip. The controversy surrounding her age is by far over shadowing her dream. I have seen way too many stories and polls online saying she is too young to attempt such a feat. To them I say phooey and here is why:

Society has a short memory. Much of our history is forged on people under the age of 18 leading armies, making discoveries and doing extraordinary feats. If you want a short refresher course in history just check out this page. Of course that does not take into account that only 200 years ago people were often married and had started families by the age of 16. Kings and Queens were often put in charge of armies at very young ages. It was not uncommon that Kings married a "woman" that was only 12 and that the child bride outlived the King and took over running the kingdom.

Nature has made humans sexually mature at the age of 13-14 years of age. Normally when a mammal is strong enough and able enough to reproduce we call them adults. So why the controversy over a 16 year old girl who wants to accomplish something in her young life. Maybe it is not her age but because she is a girl. After all, her brother did the same thing last year and I don't remember an outcry about him. Of course he is a "man" when he did something young.

Have we not only a double standard about sex but age as well?

I can't swim!!!!

Yes, I can swim, just like a fish at that. The thought of some of my friends that love marine life and even going out on the ships and boats but can't swim amazes me. My own father who was in the navy, could not swim. It just boggles the mind.

Why on earth would someone not learn how to swim when they are near water so much? I guess that gives their loved ones an excuse to shop for health insurance quotes, hoping they don't use it to keep them on life support after they nearly drown. It just makes no sense to me.

What is your ideal sea related job?

If you could have any job that had to do with working either in the ocean or near the ocean, what would it be? Keep in mind I said ANY and that means you already have what ever skills or education needed for that job.

Would it be an underwater photographer for National Geo? How about a member of the film crew for Deadliest Catch?

Would it be less glamorous but more important like being the research scientist that finds the reason why there is a decrease in the salmon population? Or maybe the person who discovers a new life form at the bottom of the ocean.

Come on, I want to hear about it. If you have a blog or website about your favorite ocean career then leave a link to it. I am sure that my readers would be interested in finding out about it too.

Water wings

A fellow college student in my advanced PE class has decided she wants to be a swimming instructor. The only thing holding her back is the fact she can barely swim. That has not stopped her however. She has enrolled in a swimming instructor class. She just barely passed the swimming test yesterday and next Tuesday she has to tread water with a 10 pound weight between her knees.

I have yet to find out how much the pay is for the instructor position that she wants this coming summer but I bet it is pretty good. She is already a fitness instructor for several of the college courses so she is in great condition.

So far she loves the fact that while she is enrolled in the course she has unlimited access to the swimming pool and spas. It was at the end of her first class session that she had a run in with one of the spa covers and ended up in an embarrassing position in the pool deck.

I can't wait until I hear about how she manages to pass the treading water test. I'll just have to wait until next week to find out.

Water fitness

I am fortunate to have a swimming pool but swimming pools take a lot of regular maintenance. Of course I also use fitness equipment to stay in shape but I would love to exchange that equipment and the pool for one of those swimming spas. The one thing I don't like about swimming laps in a swimming pool is just that - laps.

Stranded out on a lake

Don't you just love machinery? It, machinery, is a necessary evil, it is great when it works like it is suppose to but a pure devil when it breaks down. I have been out on 2 boats that have had engine problems when out on the water. Thankfully they were both on lakes and not out at sea.

The panic that sets in on people that have not been out very often on boats, will amaze you. They didn't know that the boat owners almost always have a way to get back to shore. If they don't then they don't belong out on the lake.

They were not small vessels either. One boat was owned by a friend and the other one by the state fish and game. The state ha their own mechanics to take care of those types of breakdowns but my friend had the forethought of carrying mechanical breakdown insurance on his boat.

Machinery something I use yet despise.

Swimming as therapy

I love to swim. Although I love to swim I have problems with some types of scuba equipment. Because of that I take an occasional lesson in scuba diving just to keep in practice and to learn more about the equipment that gives me problems.

One of the people that use to teach me was a person with one leg. He use to be on SSD and got fed up with not doing anything with his life so he took his passion for swimming and became a scuba instructor. He has since retired and now travels.

He is one of the many people that I have found in my life that inspired me to continue my own quest in marine biology.

A water world vacation

Of course my favorite type of vacation has to have water but I have got to think about the rest of the family too. So what better place to go on vacation that has lots of water than Walt Disney World in Florida. Of course Disney World is not just one big theme park but is made up of 6 very different theme parks. Each one of them has one central theme. The Epcot park is devoted more to exploration, science and discovery than rides and has dolphins too!

The dolphins in depth tour at Epcot is a 3 hour tour that will get you up close and personal with a school of dolphins. You will have a dolphin trainer as your guide and they take you behind the scenes. You will have the opportunity to swim with the dolphins near the end of the tour so you will need to bring your bathing suit. There is an age limit, you have to be over 13 years old. Of course the cost is $175 per person so it is not for everyone.

Another opportunity to go scuba diving at the Epcot center is Epcot's DiveQuest. This special tour is for Disney World guests that are scuba certified only. Of the 3 hour tour only 40 minutes is spent in the water. DiveQuest also costs $175 per person.

You are probably getting the idea that the admission price to the parks don't include tours and some rides and you would be right. The behind the scenes tour of Epcot which includes the underground areas and takes 7 hours costs $219 per person and is for 16 year olds and up. Of course you could hire your own Disney VIP tour guide and pay them $175 to $315 an hour for that perfect vacation.

Considering the costs of all the extras that Epcot charges for you will want to get discount tickets to Disney World. You can some real deals for Disney World Tickets at orlandofuntickets.com so you will want to check them out before you buy any tickets.

A water vacation should be fun and not leave you like you just sold your soul just to enjoy yourself.

Combining vacations

While I was busy organizing my photos of the coast the other day my husband asked me if we could combine our hobby interests and go on a golf holiday. I cringed at the idea of golf, since I am not a fan of the sport. The only time I even bothered to watch it on TV was when hubby mentioned the whales playing next to the golf course on a tournament in Hawaii. The blimp taking video of the golf tournament would keep showing these 3 whales just off shore.

To appease him I said I would think about it but only if the course was next to the ocean. To my surprise he said he was thinking about Pebble Beach and the golf courses in that area. I know that the Monterey Bay Aquarium is close and so are several research study areas. I told him to look into it and I would think about it.

Safety around the water

Here in the Northwest USA we have very cold rivers. When ever it gets hot people flock to local rivers and streams to cool off. What they should do is visit the local lakes since they are warmer than the fast moving, cold streams and rivers.

Oregon has laws about swimming in the rivers. You cannot be in a river without a life vest. Even if you have a flotation device such as an inner tube you still have to wear a life vest. That law covers people that are in boats as well as people visiting the river and swimming in it from shore.

Almost every few days there is a report of someone drowning in a local river in Oregon. Most of the time the body is not found until a few days later. The swift under current that the local rivers have is deadly. There are lots of tree limbs and logs under the water which also makes swimming a hobby left for swimming pools and lakes. So before you venture into the water, forget about looking for affordable life insurance quotes and get a life vest. A good vest is well worth the investment (no pun intended).

Getting close to the sea

Not everyone has the opportunity to see the Great Barrier Reef of Australia or to visit the clear waters around Pango Pango. There are opportunities to visit sea life and clear salt waters closer to home and have fun doing it as well. One of my favorite places is Disney World in Florida where you can experience dolphins up close and personal on a 3 hour tour in Epcot. The tour is called Dolphins in Depth. You can ask the trainers questions and have an chance to swim with the dolphins under the guidance of the trainers. You must be at least 13 years old to do so.

Another chance to swim with the fish is also at Disney World during the Epcot DiveQuest where you will don scuba gear and dive into their 5 million gallon salt water tank containing reefs and fish. You must be scuba certified to participate in this experience. You will swim with dolphins, sharks, rays and over 6,000 other fish. Disney World supplies all the equipment except a swim suit.

If you are not scuba certified then there is yet another chance with the Seas Aqua tour. This 2.5 hours of fun lets you swim on the surface of the giant salt water tank with the fish without diving under. You are still in with the sharks and dolphins so it is also like being out in the ocean but the water is clearer and you have a guide with you.

If you haven't already gotten your summer vacation planned out yet go get your Disney World Tickets and take a dip in with the fish.

The benefits of the salty ocean

The saline qualities of the ocean have some great benefits for us humans as a healing power. If you have ever had a cut or slight skin infection and went swimming in the ocean you will find that the wound becomes cleaner than if you just cleaned it with fresh water and mild skin soap. The salt acts as an astringent and kills the germs and bacteria in the wound. I have also found that swimming in the ocean is one of the best ways how to get rid of blackheads that I know of.

Swimsuit shopping time

It's that time of year when I have to go swimsuit shopping again. If you are wondering, yes I do get a new one each year. Since I practically live in the darn thing for about 6 months out of the year they have a tendency to wear out.

I like the one piece suits since I don't need the suit to come off of me while scuba diving. The last type of swim suit I want is something that looks like lingerie. I am documenting sea life not looking for a mate.

Now here is my idea of a nice scuba swim suit.

Shopping for new binoculars

I have been using an old pair of binoculars for years now. For whale watching from the coastline they are not a pair that I would choose for doing it. My old camcorder has a better zoom feature on it to allow me to get up close and personal. I have been looking around for a new pair and I think that I might have found a line of binoculars that I like - the NIKON line. The one I have pictured above is their Ocean Pro which they claim is made just for using in an marine environment. I quite frankly never had a problem with the old pair I am using around the water. What NIKON is offering is Free ATB Pro Gear when you purchase a pair of binoculars from them. It is something I'll have to think about since I am also looking for a more powerful zooming feature than what I currently have.

Planning ahead

If you have ever been out on the ocean in a small craft then you know the importance of boating navigation. It is no laughing matter to get out on the ocean without a depth finder or communication to the mainland. I should know, the boat I was in had just narrowly missed hitting a reef that was only 5 feet below the surface but with the small swells the reef came within inches of slicing the boat open. This happened several years ago when I was a teen and I will never forget the panicked look on my uncles' face. Ever since then I have been a big fan of electronic gizmo's for marine use. Whenever I climb aboard a boat I am always asking if there is a depth finder on board along with the mandatory life jackets.

Summer camp

My younger sister still lives with my parents and mom recently asked her if she wanted to do anything special this coming summer. She is very much like me. We both enjoy wildlife and she is the artist in the family so when she goes on vacation she takes her sketch book with her. Both mom and I thought she might pick a summer camp this year since mom and dad have a bit more money to spend now that my college tuition is paid for. She told mom that she was not interested in the team sports camps like she was in years past but wanted to still wanted to stay active. She saw several interesting types of summer camps on a local TV show a few weeks back. The one that piqued her interest was a surfing summer camp.

When my mom told me about my little sister wanting to learn how to surf and go to camp I must have had a look of envy on my face. My mom knew right away that it would have been something that I would have loved when I was younger. I don't even think that they had surfing summer camps for kids just 8 years ago otherwise I would have found out and bugged the heck out of my parents to send me. If my sister ends up going to surfing camp she has to promise me to take photos so I can put them on this blog.