Unless you are a scuba geek like me, you'll probably not appreciate the utter bliss of the past week. Thirteen dives in six days, friends and neighbors! I have been in scuba heaven. The rhythm of the day would go a little something like this:

* Get up early, which, as I've mentioned, you pretty much can't avoid in this part of the world. Sun comes up, it's time to get outta bed!

* Amble over to the Snack Shack next to the dock for a bagel and coffee. Get amiably harassed by (or sometimes do the harassing of) Jeff and other insane Alton's staff.

* Check out scuba gear and set up kit on the dock.

* Head out for a two-tank trip to see the most amazing marine life, including huge parrotfish, turtles, drumfish, gigantic French and Queen angelfish, the occasional shark, and so much more I don't even have room to list it all here. Dive with incredibly competent, knowledgable, and fun divemasters, and a great group of fellow divers. Occasionally do something really cool like spot two scorpionfish on your own during the same dive. (I rock!) Come back and log dives, with barely even enough room on the page to list everything we just saw.

* Enjoy lunch at the snack shack.

* Chill out on the dock, occasionally going in for a dip to see the cool fish and crabs that hang out under and around the dock, often taking a nap in the hammocks, and sometimes motivating down the street to check email.

* Celebrate happy hour and the sunset with the rest of the crew. If lucky, listen to Martin's valiant attempt to play the guitar missing a string. Watch Jim and Jamie try to toss each other off the dock. Listen to Adam's incredible fish tales.

* Go across the street to RJ's for some barbecue or down the road somewhere for other cheap and tasty treats. Discuss the day's incredible adventures as well as past and future travel plans with other cool peeps.

* Hit the sack and get ready for another amazing day tomorrow.

Complete and utter bliss, I tell ya. And a restorative and recuperative way to spend the past week. I feel ready to take on Central America again!