Guess what? Libna, Lee, Chris, Tommy, Porshai, Michelle and Josh are now Open Water SCUBA Certified! Meanwhile, Lulu, Dina and Denise are finishing their Adventure Diver Certification and Jess is working on her Discover SCUBA!


This compass skills dive was our last Open Water certification dive! Some compasses were on our Breathing Control Devices (BCDs) and some had their compasses on their wrists. We need to know how to use them so that we wouldn't wind up losing our way in the ocean, which is pretty easy to do. Anyways, enough of that. Here are the Sea TURTLES thoughts on their certifications:

I am excited for everyone's certification. I'm glad everyone had an opportunity to work with a PADI instructor because when I was certified, I didn't get this kind of opportunity to come to such an amazing place to get certified. I only had dives in a pond in Connecticut and dives at Gloucester Beach. I had four dives in total for my certification. Everyone here is lucky to have this great opportunity to be certified out here.
-Denise

I am really excited for everyone. I was certified in a pond that had no visibility. This is an amazing opportunity to dive here rather than in the cold weather in
Boston. Im glad because I had Sarah as an instructor and I know she is a wicked good teacher.
-Dina

Im basically really excited. Congratulations to you all. Yeah, just... wow.
-Lulu

I'm happy that I was able to dive on this trip and see these beautiful animals. I'm excited for everyone who got their certification and I can't wait to be certified in the future!
-Jess

I am so relieved. I got it done! I successfully did every task. Now, I'm anticipating a future in diving in either the G.O.T., Bahamas, and other places.
-Porshai

It hasn't hit me yet but I'm relieved. I'm excited to explore and dive
without having to go over dive skills.
-Tommy

I feel accomplished. It was difficult for me to start diving in the beginning but I proved some people wrong. Now, I can't wait to dive in the G.O.T.
-Libna

Getting dive certified, I felt great. For the first time, I got to go down in the water and all my life I've been snorkling. Instead of floating at the surface, I got to go down to the bottom and stay down. I get to absorb so much more down there.
-Chris

I am still in disbelief! The idea of being certified is still settling in! I'm extremely excited though, we finally accomplished something that we worked so hard for!!! I can't wait to see more of this whole new world and go on some more spectacular adventures!
-Lee

So I finally got certified and I feel awesome. I feel like an expert in diving and its all thanks to our dive instructors Mike and Sarah. We all feel confident diving in open water and we have come a long way from our first pool session. Being dive certified, I will start to get more involved with diving environments and meeting new people so I can experience new adventures. Getting certified is one of the best things to happen to me since getting my learners permit
-Josh

I have to be honest. I don't feel any different. I'm one of those people who need time and experience to fully realize something. Other than that, it is great to finally dive and not have to go over skills anymore. I'm pretty sure that once I get my certification I.D., it'll hit me and I will say "Wow. I'm a certified diver." I will cherish these memories and never forget any of them.
-Michelle

Today was a big day for all of us. It is now our time to make adventurous dives and our next dive will take place at the Sapona (photo above), a wreck that has a lot of history to it [last year's Sea TURTLEs posted about it here]. We will be diving in the daylight and at night!

-2011 Sea TURTLE Expedition writing from the Bahamas