I'm with Sea

The news of the hour is that I have obtained my open water diving certificate! A weekend of 8-5 training in the sea including, but not limited to: a drive to Simonstown, inclement weather (pouring rain) instant coffee, lingering sand grain in my ears, cold and wet wetsuits, super salty locks and dramatic snorkel rescues (a SCUBA skill one must practice. I looked totally awesome, a lot like David Hasselhoff, I imagine as I dragged my drowning diver buddy to shore and resuscitated him). An open water certification means: I can dive with or without a leader up to depths of 18 meters wherever in the world I want whenever I want (could be in the Red Sea when I am 89). Universal and life long, this certification gives me access the life aquatic which I will be vigorously pursuing under the assumed name: Scuba 'Stina.

Primarily I want to see some serious primary productivity-- want to head to those beautiful coral reefs before they are lost. Want to swim with manatees (my favorite underwater grazer!) and witness the most bizarre of animals of shapes and colors and adaptions I cannot begin to conceive of.

Otherwise I had a nice Heritage Day (national holiday last Thursday) went adventure hiking through the forest. Learned that there is a species of tree with a metallic luster that occurs only on the slopes of Table Mountain! I shall post a picture and send one to my botanist colleagues back home. Spent time last week in Kristenbosch gardens-- lush botanic gardens with grassy hillsides, lots of species of Protea, some Carpobrotus edulis (ice plant-- native here invasive in CA) guinea fowl pecking about, birds of paradise and many more things. Additionally I have been attending class, frequenting pubs, scuba diving in the pouring rain, viewing rainbows and attempting to waste less.

I have started eating apple and pear cores to be less wasteful. Also I nibble on banana peels and sample plant life whenever it suits me. Don't worry, I know what they say about mushroom hunters:

There are old mushroom hunters

There are brave mushroom hunters;

but no old, brave mushroom hunters.

So I won't be sampling any death caps or plants with deathly latex (used for poison arrows!)

On all other fronts things are well. Car is well behaved, health is good (so grateful!) homework is under control but that is subject to change.

Looking forward to the week ahead. Here is about life under the sea:

the virgin voyage

underwater

I must play

and touch and grab as a child would

finger enclosed in an anenome's hug

starfish suctioned to my hand

crabs battle with legs flailing, pincers scissoring

fish poking out from within their convenient kelp curtain

jelly fish, nearly planktonic, floating helplessly by

and how do I compare?

aqua lung strapped to my back

fins flailing more uselessly than a dog using a pair of wings

the awkward inflation of my anthropogenic buoyancy control

less do I care to compare

than fixate my stare

on a pair

of rare

cuddle fish mating!