Turn up the volume for full effect!
Well the dust storm quit for a couple days, but has now returned in a different form. Our compound has empty lots on all four sides and construction has now started on two sides. We are gently greeted each morning with the screeching of metal on metal tracks of the earth moving equipment, the pleasant humming of diesel engines under full throttle, and the soothing vibrations of the jackhammers breaking through the limestone. The wind has died down a little, so the dust is able to simply float over the wall and settle like a snow blanket in the compound. We were happy to find out that the project will last through our stay here in Al-Khor.
On a happier note, we purchased our tickets home on June 29th. I know you will all be surprised to know it is the day after our last day of school. Some people here actually questioned why we weren’t staying a few days to get things in order – my reply is that I have had things in order for the past six months and still don’t know why I’m still here.
I finally got to go diving here in Qatar …and I must say, it was one the best dives I have ever been on. I know it sounds like I am talking crazy, but it was a really good dive. We left at 6 AM with the intent of three dives starting at the Marjan Wreck, 65 miles due east of Al-Khor. Unfortunately, we lost half power on one of our engines about 60 miles out. We limped on to the site, but knew we had a one-engine return cutting our speed to 14 knots (almost 5 hours). So, we hopped in and made the best of a single dive. It is a 300+ ft. freighter that went down in the 80s with a load of sulfur in bags. It is believed that the load shifted causing it to capsize taking down the entire crew of more than 30. The coral growth was very good with one of the largest assortments of fish I have ever seen in one area before. The ship was broken up, creating multiple swim troughs and entry points into the hull. At first sight of the ship, we saw a huge school of Great Barracuda (at least 30, between 3-5 feet) being followed by another large school of Yellow Jacks. It just kept getting better! Scorpion Fish everywhere along with schools of tangs, parrots, and angles. The visibility was between 15 to 25 feet, but much of it was like a night dive with several nocturnal species out roaming inside the darkness of the ship – crabs, cowries, and other crustaceans. I have certainly been on better dives, but I still think this one ranked way up there on the scale. Maybe it was my lack of expectation that was really surprising. The water was cold – about 63° F, but my 3mm new wetsuit came through and kept me as warm as the other guys wearing 7mm suits -- thanks again Patagonia. So, I hope to find some other great dives before we leave.
Speaking of diving – Phuket here we come. On the plane Thursday night – on the beach Friday afternoon!
Lesson of the Week: You can’t judge a body of water by its shore.
Love to all,
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