Weekend Extravaganza - Scuba Certification Edition

How was your weekend?  Seriously, this past weekend was so crazy awesome, I'm still in disbelief really.  Though someone is typing this blog... hmmm... might as well be me.  (disclaimer: quite exhausted - if this doesn't make sense, I'll update at a later point in time)

Disclaimer - this will be a lengthy blog.

How do you celebrate your last Friday in Hawai'i (in the near foreseeable future)?  Happy Hour of course!!  There's no better Happy Hour on the island than Dave and Busters (M-F 1630-1900, Su-Th 2200 - closing)!  All the hard liquor and mixed drinks are 50% off.  That's not even the best part - the location, watching the sunset at the roof deck of DnB while having a Cosmo is really where its at - especially when you're in the company of awesome friends!

What do you when Happy Hour is over? Play games of course!  After playing tons of games for tickets we didn't redeem.  What's next?!  Time for the next bar.  (seriously).  I don't think I've been to 2 bars in one night since 2006? 

Well, we lost one on the way to Hula's.  Hula's was fun, it hasn't changed much in years, great relaxed environment with people that are easily approachable and a bit of dancing to be had - and dancing we did.

One part of this experience that was a bit of a sour note, was the fact that I knew I had to scuba dive the next day at 0730 - at Electric Beach on the east side.  Basically, I needed to be up and out of the house by 0600 the next day.  The ironic part is I took the written part of my NAUI scuba exam online on Friday - that stated you shouldn't drink nor smoke before you dive.  At the end of the night, I had a bit too much to drink, but I spent roughly 2 hours drinking heaps of water, coffee and dancing.

After a quick power nap, it was time to head to Electric Beach for my first dive in the ocean.  Now, you guys know that I am scared of open water, so I had a bit of anxiety, but fortunately - I was too tired to really have any fear.  In fact, I feel asleep in the back of the pickup truck on the way there (and even on the way back).  We performed two dives this day.

Electric Beach at sunrise

Group Briefing - apparently I'm not listening.

Hmmm... I thought I had a lot more things to say about scuba certification, but the thoughts really allude me at this time.  Let me just write about some technical aspects.  The certification process requires 5 dives (including 1 freedive - without gear).  Each dive requires performing tasks that must be completed - cool part is, its the same tasks we did in the pool the Tuesday and Thursday night prior.

Scuba Gear

Actually, thinking about it, having taken this class, it has made me feel a lot more comfortable in the water.  Even learning basic skills like clearing your mask, different ways to dive underwater, and just the experience of being underwater - 3 hours and 23 minutes underwater has really opened my eyes that there really isn't anything to be scared of - as long as you know your abilities and respect the water.  Yes, I am not going on some 200 ft. dive anytime soon, but yes, I'll go on some shallower dives.

I'm NAUI Scuba Certified - shut the FRONT DOOR!  Will post a copy of the ID upon receipt in a week or so.

Me underwater...

Oh yeah, this past weekend too, a lot of my things have been sold, the extra TVs are gone, bed, desks, etc.  Tomorrow, the car will be sold and hopefully the bike as well.

PS. Fuji XP20 sucks underwater.  I think it would be good for snorkeling or the pool, nothing deeper than 5ft.  Oh yeah, I saw 4 turtles today. lol where's that honu picture?

Sorry so short... ha ha... I'm brain pO.Oped.

PPS.  Thinking of getting certified?  I highly recommend the company that handled my certification.  They are (very patient individuals) really cool people who just love what they do.
Check them out: Pearl Harbor Divers.

Mahalo for reading. 

Until next time.

Conquering Fear - Deep Water

 Who would have guessed I would be talking about me entering the deep water!?

Well, I've made great strides the last couple of years to really enjoy the water.  Learning how to swim, learning how to surf, snorkeling, kayaking, and now... scuba diving.

Today was the 1st (night) day of scuba certification, and supposedly the hardest, getting to know the gear was the easy part.  There was a swim test!  It was so hard since I hadn't really been swimming and such.

So the test:
-Swim 200 meters non-stop (not too bad, sorta sucked without a warm-up)
-Swim 50 meters underwater - with 1 breath (pretty easy - I have great lung capacity)
-Tread water for 10 minutes (this sucked so hard)

Treading water for me is the hardest - for those of you (Team Jet) who have trained with me in the water - especially the UH pool, know that I just sink to the bottom, it was really really hard for me.  Everyone else was talking, playing games, while I was there struggling staring at the sky trying to stay above water.

After that the rest was easy.  It was assembling out gear, getting in the water and going through exercises.  Breathing with the apparatus, finding the apparatus while underwater, how to remove water from your mask while underwater, completely filling your mask with water and clearing, removing your mask completely and putting it back on and clearing. then helping our your buddy who is out of oxygen, then getting use to having all the gear and finding your buoyancy. 

Sounds short, but our session today was from 1800-2230.  I was so cold in the water.  Weird part is, I wasn't cold anymore when I left the water.

I'm finally home, blogging and exhausted.

Eeps!  MBA interview tomorrow - wish me luck!

Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.

W. O. M (Waste of Money - Part deux)

WASTE OF MONEY - PART TWO

Since iTunes came into the scene, it has been very rare that I have bought CDs. I have purchased a couple of CDs here and there but I have been looking forward to the holiday season as musicians release their CDs in hopes of making million of dollars on minions like me.

I have purchased 4 CDs the past week and I am very disappointed with 3 of them.

Beyonce - I am... Sasha Fierce
More like Sasha boring. This 2 disk set, 1 CD for Beyonce (boring ballads) and 1 CD for Sasha Fierce (currently in training). Besides Single Ladies, there are no real songs that I see on here as possible singles or really good songs. Though Beyonce will sell millions of albums, its just sad as it seems this is really a watered down CD from the Beyonce we know. Don't expect "Ring the Alarm", or "Crazy in Love" or "Irreplaceable". 1 out of 4 starts.


Taylor Swift - Fearless
I have been listening to more country music this year more than ever and this is one of the artists responsible. Her sophomore album Fearless is a major disappointment. All the songs sound similar to her 1st album. She will also sell millions of copies of this CD but this CD is more a disappointment from the artist I have come to love. 1.5 out of 4 stars.


David Archuleta - Self-Titled
Save yourself some $, but the single "Crush" and that's it. 1 star our of 4.


David Cook - Self-Titled
This CD is the best buy out of the 4 if you were planning to purchase a CD. However, this probably won't enter your replay vault as the songs seem to run together and might give you a headache from all the screaming. 2.5 stars out of 4.


Mahalo for reading.

Until next time.