In 1999 we went to Belize and I brought Rick [Rob's brother, a Veterinarian for the State of Arizona] with me. The earthquake under water which took vis from a whopping 30 feet to about 1 foot in one minute was the most memorable event. Surfacing to 5 foot swells and not being able to get to the boat was a little different. The boat ride back to the Wave Dancer and having to jump back into that ugly water and swim for the boat with that ladder jumping in and out of the water was one of my scariest diving experiences -- We made it fine, I think?!!. Oh yeah, remember the Aggressor flying out of the water on our starboard side in the waves as it stuck with us the whole week?? It was also the trip that we had "Drug of the Day" and the trip that Charlie booby trapped the parlor door with the weight that fell on that all-so-pleasant Hughes employee. Lastly, the "not my Talih" line by Narsis will forever be in my memories. [ed: There were two boats in the area where we were diving; Talih swam to the wrong one, as wife Narcis looked on in horror]

I think I laughed harder on that trip than I ever have in my whole life.

The 2000 trip to Grand Turk was great (they all have been really). I got there a day early and my plane ride was unbelievable! I sat next to the pilot and he flew this tiny twin engine plane right thru a huge thunderstorm. I was watching for coral heads the whole way in case we ditched in the sea. Also, the pilot used a BP cuff to pump something up under his steering wheel about 50 times all the way over to Grand Turk - I still don't know what the heck he was doing but it scarred the _ _ out of me. That was the trip that I decided to take a nap one day and missed playing with the manta ray the whole dive! I will never take a nap again on any of our trips.

Year 2001: the Caymans - beautiful trip the whole week except the captain was having marital problems with his wife who joined us for part of the trip. Most memorable-singing "we all live in a yellow submarine" to the yellow sub that pulled up next to us in the harbor - I still think that was hilarious.

Year 2002: the Exumas. I loved the trip - I know some did not but I thought the diving was pretty darn good and that Navy Seal jump off the boat on the drift dive was great. Most memorable - when Rick grabbed Talih's fin while Talih was holding onto a big rope on that drift dive - Talih's eyes were wide open and they were both straight out in the current. I guess you had to be there? The shark dive was also really something - Talih took the best underwater photo I have ever seen (of me naturally) with a huge (and I mean huge) shark that I now have hanging in my office -most patients think it is fake. Having a few beers with Tom and Jane and Rick and lounging at one of the many many pools at the Atlantis was also perfect.