SAN SOLOMON SPRINGS
BALMORHEA, TEXAS - FEBRUARY 2003
Leaving on Friday morning we had a wonderfully relaxing and comfortable trip out to west Texas. By using a 56 passenger bus for transportation, we had loads of space for luggage, tanks, and people. Everyone was able to visit and move around at will.
The onboard TVs provided easy access for Altitude Specialty Classroom. Randy Joy taught the course and everyone what they need to know to be safe diving at 3,500 feet in the springs.
After our arrival around 5pm we visited the locally famous restaurant as the cutest little restaurant. It was in fact quite cute and great food to boot.
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After eating, we gathered our gear and got wet (all except Jeremy, Mike, Debra, and Gary, the open water students) with a night dive in the springs. It was refreshingly warm and clear.
Saturday brought fun and excitement for everyone. The Rescue Diver students, Patti and Horace, found all manner of injured, panicked, and lost divers around the area. I would add that every situation was dealt with in a calm and proficient manner bringing everyone safely to shore and treating their various injuries! The Open Water students had such a wonderful time their masks would hardly seal from the huge smiles – no problem, clearing the mask is one of their most important skills. The advanced students, Jack and Ken, as well as Gary and Rance, all had a turn at play acting for the rescue students and loved every minute of it! By late afternoon, we were all tired and hungry. We went in search of food and found a second great restaurant close by. Leaving time for a second night dive!
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As you can see, they were not expecting such a large group, but we got the furniture rearranged in short order and had a great meal to prepare us for our night dive.
Sunday was beautiful, calm, and warm. Everyone finished up their checkout dives for the variety of courses, had a fun dive or two, took pictures and packed up. Tim and Caryn were probably the most tired of all. As dive master candidates, they had the dubious honor of being everywhere and helping everyone all at once! The ride home was even more comfortable, we got to sleep while Ed, the driver, took us smoothly home.
(Click on picture to enlarge)
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