Alpha 1 Day 5: Student Check In!
June 29, 2016
We sat down with two students from the Alpha adventure to see how their experience has been so far. Here’s what they had to say!
Galilee Crew Member:
Going away scared me. Being away from my family, friends, and home makes me worry. Homesickness is something that is a common occurrence for me. However, the need for adventure and experience overpower those negative feelings. When I was told I would be going Sail Caribbean for two weeks, I was worried, I’ll admit it. The thought of not being able to talk to my parents or best friends whenever I wanted to scared me. But when the day came to leave, I got on the plane, completed a day of travel and arrived on the boat. The worry and anxiety went away. I was greeted by people who were ready for the same adventures I was and by my captain and mate who were so excited to take us on the adventure. People who are so enthusiastic to do what they love and share it with 10 kids on a boat for two weeks are rare.
The first night was spent on Tortola on docks but the next day we headed to Cooper Island. I’ll tell it like it is – the water was bluer than the sky on a clear August day and it was clearer than crystal. We had options to tan, go tubing, get smoothies, or just talk with our new friends.
Currently, we are at the Pirates Bights about to depart. I can say I’ve been more than happy spending my days with some of the most amazing people I’ve ever met, scuba diving and swimming. Sure, I’m still homesick, but when I look at my new friends, my surroundings, and my little brother (who is also here) having the time of his life, the desire for even more adventure and experience eliminates it even further.
Venture Crew Member:
The first day after many hours of travel, we all convened on the boat. We got to know each other a little over the delicious dinner and went to bed early. The next day, we departed for Cooper Island. After we arrived, we snorkeled around our moored boat and saw sea turtles, squid, and a sting ray. After some scuba-ing and some overview of scuba to come, we took our first ocean showers. The next day, the divers took their first breaths underwater while others sailed on Opal Bella to work towards their ASA certifications. We then sailed for the first time with both sails to the Bight on Norman Islands. Around this time, everyone began to notice that our boat was starting to become a family. After a social on the bach with some virgin drinks, we called it a night.
Day 4 began with a very pretty hike to the helipad. After our hike, our crew partook in waterspouts and sailed Opal Bella as a tight unit. Then, some of our team snorkeled around the Indians (a dive site) and were able to identify many fish. Open Water divers continued their training. After dinner, we headed to bed early. Day 5 we woke up early, de-moored, and set sail for Nanny Cay and cleaned the boat. After checking out some stores, we got our phones back. One of our crew left for a night dive and another mastered the flying 8 knot and we all continued to enjoy each other.
