Lionfish Fight Back

OK, so I received my first lionfish sting today. Mother of God, it hurts! I've had 3 Ibuprofen and 3 G&Ts and it STILL HURTS!!! I feel like a twit for letting him get me. We were bagging fish we'd speared, but one wasn't dead and he twisted and got me. The remedy for the toxin is nearly as bad as the pain -- you have to put scalding hot water on the affected area. In my case that means my right ring finger, which now has a water blister from the scalding water in addition to the black and blue from the lionfish toxin. The back of my hand is swollen too. Very attractive. But will I stop going after this new invasive species? Hell no, I'm getting my own spear gun. Revenge!!!

A Matter of Respect

The clean-up at the resort continues. We’re power-washing everything, cleaning up yard debris from the storm season (while it’s still storming – Tropical Storm Richard is kicking waves, wind and rain at us, but it’s still predicted to bypass us to the west) and the maids are getting the rooms put back together. My jobs today: power washing, interior window washing and hauling lounge chairs out to the pool deck and the beach. Meanwhile, Bob, another divemaster, cleaned the Jacuzzi, which involved netting tadpoles. How tadpoles survive in chemical-laden Jacuzzi water is a mystery to me, but there was an entire hot-tub party going on in there. French, a Jamaican landscaper, is working on clearing the yard. At the end of his long hard day, I brought him some cookies and muffins to take home. When Jamaican workers say thank you, they say “respect” – acknowledging your kindness and respect.

Diving in the Rain

I’ve been in Little Cayman now for more than 48 hours, and I started work yesterday. Right now, we’re doing all kinds of chores and setting up to re-open on Oct. 29. However, I made my first dive this afternoon at about 4:00. Ahhhh. Gay, Bob and I went shore diving at a site called Salt Rock. We did a 70-minute dive, during which Bob speared 15 lionfish (pictured, Martha bags a lionfish). So for those skeptics who think the lionfish problem in the Caribbean is overblown…come and count our catch. Or better yet, have some lionfish sushi with us. It was pouring while we were diving – I love looking up and watching the rain drops dimple the sea’s surface. Here's what the weatherman says about our unsettled situation: “Heavy thunderstorm activity has increased and grown more organized over the past day over the southwestern Caribbean between Honduras and the Cayman Islands in association with a tropical disturbance. A surface circulation may be beginning to form, and the Hurricane Hunters are scheduled to investigate the area this afternoon (Oct. 19) to see if a tropical depression is forming. The storm is currently moving north-northwest at 5 - 10 mph, but is expected to move west or southwest beginning on Wednesday, making the storm primarily a threat to Honduras, Mexico.” Hopefully, the main part of this depression will just side-swipe our little island.

T Minus 11 and Counting

Photo shows just the beginning of the packing Tetris for three months of underwater fun. Rubber wardrobe? Check. Fins, mask, snorkel, booties, regulator, BCD, rash guards, dive light, dive computer, regulator, spare batteries, etc., etc., etc.? Check, check and check. Dive dreams? Every night now…

And of course I need my work permit and work visa and passport. I'm an official migrant worker, a new experience for me. Cayman Immigration required a police background check, which came up clean (no snickering out there). Also required, mug shots and other background documents.