Learning about marine life

Although the last two days have been very "normal", I've met some interesting people and learned some neat things.

Yesterday, after swimming at the Blue Angel, I met John, a divemaster from Vancouver.  He was talking with some other fellows, Micheal and Dennis, I had met a few days earlier.  Dennis is a tall and handsome man, likely in his early 50s.  His life is very interesting.  He teaches swimming, and cycling, and whatever else to the children of the stars in Santa Monica California, mostly at the stars' home.  Very interesting!  But, I thought the man would never shut up!!!  I was tempted to time him to see how long he would talk without me getting a word in at all.  Christelle was there too (then), she can back me up on this....

John was kind of "dated" looking. Picture Kim Mitchel with jet black hair.  He was smart and interesting, yet modest. He taught me some neat things like:

Sea urchins move around.  If you prick yourself on one, it will hurt and can get infected.  But no more than a normal splinter.  Good to know cause I stuck my thumb on one a few days ago.  Happily, my thumb is fine. 

Lion fish are dumb, you can swim right up to them and spear them.  But if you do get stung on their spiny things, it will hurt like crazy.  Try to plunge the affected body part in the hottest water you can, like boiling.  They are very tasty also.


Sting rays have many barbs on their tails and some venom.  They will not attack humans unless trapped/provoked.  Steve Irwin, the Australian crocodile hunter who died from a sting ray barb in 2006 apparently "trapped" a stingray in a shallow bay.  Although the stingray barb pierced his heart, a crazy fluke, Irwin might have lived if he didn't pull the barb out before going to hospital.

Happily, urchins, rays, and lion fish do not tend to come to the surface of the water; they stay in the bottom of the ocean.  So, I'm safe while swimming at the surface. That's great cause I've seen rays twice while swimming, very cool!!!

Photos: Top - Inukshuks, Mexican style.
Middle-the cat that lives at the villa.  Apparently she bites.  But she`s been getting closer and closer the last couple of days.  Hopefully, we`ll become good friends.
Bottom: A spotted eagle ray.  The kind I`ve seen while swimming.  Very cool!