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| Thalassa Dive Resort |
One of the great things about TIS are the opportunities for our students to travel and experience different cultures and people from around the world. These opportunities extend to our annual Experience Week which occurs every March. All of secondary is expected to take part in these trips and the teachers gather in small groups and plan extraordinary and once in a lifetime trips for the kids. Grade 7s go to Taiwan, 8s to Chiang Mai, Thailand, 9s to Japan and the high school students have their choice to go on one of the 6-10 trips offered. Last year I was fortunate enough to go to Seoul, S. Korea and this year I was excited to go along on the scuba diving trip to Thalassa Dive Resort, located in N. Sulawesi, Indonesia.
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| One of our 4 open water dives. This one had a sunken speedboat 20m down. |
Last spring, when Amanda took her open water dive course in Koh Lipe, Thailand, she wanted me to do it as well, but at the time, I wasn't that interested. I figured that it would be something that I got, then wouldn't really have the drive to do afterwards and get bored of it. Now that I have completed the course, I can honestly say that diving is one of the best things I have ever done and I can't wait until the next time I can dive, especially with Amanda and Kylisha. It probably won't be long until Kaidyn is certified as well and it will just be another activity that we can do together as a family!
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| So many turtles there! |
Scuba diving is an intimidating thing. To think that you are about 20 metres and one mistake could be devastating. To prepare mentally and avoid panic is what this course is all about. Thalassa Dive Resort's instructors prepared all of us and were very thorough in making sure that we all mastered the various skills required to pass. If we showed even the smallest mistake, they made sure that we repeated the skill until we had mastered it. Personally, the most nerve-wracking skill was the full mask removal and replacement while 15 metres deep. We had practiced this skill in the pool, but the pool was nothing like being that deep in the open sea. One inhalation through your nose and panic was sure to set in. Once you had the mask back on, you then had to clear all the water out of it through a series of exhalations out your nose. I was fortunate enough to do this on my first attempt, but some of the students took up to 5 minutes to complete it. Good thing there is no time limit, but the they showed some great mental toughness!
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| Sea turtle close up. |
Aside from the skills, the dives were fantastic! I had heard from co-workers that Sulawesi was some of the best diving they had experienced and it did not disappoint! We saw so many turtles, stone fish, stingrays, banded sea kraits (snakes), lionfish etc. and soooo much colourful coral. My favourite dives were at the sites with walls (vertical drops covered in coral and sea life). Another teacher took this great close up (above) of this green turtle.
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| Tunan Waterfall |
On the final full day of the trip, we were treated to an excursion to Tunan Waterfall located approximately 45 minutes away from Thalassa. Upon arrival at the parking lot, our students took large garbage bags and did their part to keep Sulawesi clean. As they hiked to the waterfall, they collected trash along the path and there was definitely no shortage of rubbish. Once the "work" was finished, we were all able to head into the water and enjoy some time swimming under the falls. After spending 4 days in 30 degree Celsius water, the frigid waterfall provided a shock to our systems and kept us alert and awake! I managed to stay in for about 5 minutes.
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| Group shot! |
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| A visit to the Bunaken Natonal Park offices with local students. |
After the waterfall, we made our way back to Thalassa for lunch and then were treated to a tour of the village by some of the local students of the Dive and Tourism School. The owner of our resort, Simone, is Dutch and has been in Indonesia for 18 years now. She actually runs a tourism and dive school for local students, so that they are able to find employment once they finish high school. Many of the staff at Thalassa are students of her school!
The young boys and girls took us to some of the local schools, churches and government offices. The picture above was a group shot of us with the staff of the Bunaken National Park offices. We watched a short presentation on the conservation efforts within the park and some of the roadblocks they face in this part of the world. Conservation is the focus, but the problems are much more severe here than back in the West.
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| Rooftop sunset. |
On our last night, the resort had a BBQ party for us and the local students. Piles of meat skewers adorned the tables, live music was played by some of the staff and a huge 10 foot bonfire was glowing in the background! What a way to end the trip!
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| My dive guides James, and Davin in the back. |
On a personal note, I had a blast with my colleagues and the kids. It is always so good to spend time with these young adults outside of the classroom and in an environment that is not so structured. I really learn a lot about them on a more personal level.
Travel tip: If anyone has the chance to fly Garuda Indonesia, I highly recommend it! Even on short flights, they provide hot meals and each seat has a personal TV with lots of movies. I actually brought lots of course reading with me, but barely touched it on the plane due to the available entertainment!
Can't wait for next year's trip!
