A review from a diver on ScubaBoard: Does This Island Go To The Bottom?

If you’re a diver than you know about ScubaBoard.com. A social media site for divers that covers all things related to SCUBA. Here is a fellow divers review of my book “Does This Island Go To The Bottom?”

“I just finished the book on a flight back from FL to the frozen north of MN. It was a nice quick read with very good imagery. I could picture all the places and sites that Eric described in the book.

I always enjoy hero to zero escapades of the “been there, done that” divers you run into on dive boats. Eric also points out how instructors and DMs get a kick out of the new divers awe of being underwater for the first time.

Overall a solid book and good money spent.”

And here’s another . . . this one’s great!

“I read this book almost in its entirety and it is not for the faint of heart. Disturbing on so many levels. A rather sobering view on the scuba industry and dive ‘professionals’ narrated by the author.”

Audio Review from ScubaRadio.com, 2 Fins Up!

The host of ScubaRadio.com, Greg “The Divemaster,” sent me an email saying that he had finished my book. He told me that he really liked it a lot. So much so, that he decided to do a follow up review of my book, “Does This Island Go To The Bottom?” on his radio show. This was a bit of a surprise to me for the reason that ScubaRadio.com adheres to strict safety standards set forth by the scuba agency and promotes the positive aspect of the sport of scuba diving. My book on the other hand, at times, is the total opposite. Like a maverick on the open ocean. It was the reality of the business at that time.

Here is Greg’s review. Skip to 29:50.

 

Interview on ScubaRadio.com

After recently publishing my book, “Does This Island Go To The Bottom?”  I wanted feed back from my peers, and maybe just a little exposure. So last week I sent a copy of my book to this guy in Florida who’s love of diving caused him to start up the first radio show dedicated to scuba diving called ScubaRadio.com. He goes by the name “Greg the Divemaster.” He started up the show about 15 years ago at the same time I was on my island hopping hiatus in the Caribbean and it has been going strong ever since.

I wasn’t expecting a response from Greg, at least not a quick response, but I got an email from him on Friday. He said he already read the first 50 pages of my book and loved it! He asked if I would come on the show Saturday, which was the next day, and talk about the book. Of course! Why would I say no?

It was a great experience and a little intimidating being interviewed on a radio show that’s broadcasted throughout the United States. ScubaRadio.com covers news and stories about all things evolved around diving and provides valuable information on ocean awareness and conservation while having fun doing it.

Here is the link to my interview with ScubaRadio.com promoting my book. Cut to minute mark 39:30 start of the interview. Or listen to the whole thing. Subscribe to ScubaRadio.com and listen to their podcasts for free on iTunes. It’s a great show!

Copy and paste link: http://archives.warpradio.com/btr/ScubaRadio/020915.mp3

Thanks again Greg!

http://www.scubaradio.com

Let the bullets fly!

My book has consumed me. I haven’t had the mental capacity to write about anything else. The final edit is underway, that is, if there is such a thing as a final edit. I haven’t kept up with this site for this reason. So I felt it was time to post another section of my book to keep it breathing, to keep it alive.

This piece takes place in St. Thomas USVI. It was wild. I really couldn’t believe it was happening until it was over. Time put on the breaks and everything moved in slow motion. Taken from the chapter “Bullets Fly in Paradise.”

 

One fine Caribbean morning I had a resort course in chest deep water at Coki Beach. I was going over the power inflater on the BC with my students and explaining how to deflate to go underwater when bullets rang out, cracking the still air savagely like barking dogs. The tranquil morning was broken. I looked in the direction of the shots and saw two West Indians running up the beach in our direction. The dude in back was holding a vicious looking hand gun and was taking wild pop shots at the other West Indian he was chasing. The natives were definitely restless.

Holy shit! Was I seeing what I was seeing? Island violence in all it’s glory. Brutal and mean, it was not only a sight of terror but also a theater of comical mayhem. The beach was littered with pasty white cruise ship passengers and hard body vacationers one minute, and then the next minute came white flashes of people scattering like ants, trying to take cover. Cups of rum punch and beer bottles flew up in the air, beach chairs clanked and squeaked kicking up fine white sand as they were thrown about. It was total chaos.

My students were facing me and were oblivious to what was happening. They were too focussed on me, which was a good thing. I had to think quick. Cat-like reflexes were key to avoiding stray lead shooting about. The students were still holding onto their inflater/deflater hoses and their regulators were in their mouths. Perfect!

“Ok everyone hold up your hoses and press the top deflate button and let all the air out of your BC,” I said. “Go all the way underwater and lay on your bellies. Do it now!” There must have been a sense of urgency in my voice because there was no hesitation on the students’ part. They dropped like rocks to the sandy bottom. As I went under I heard one more round fire. The threatening sound of the discharge while underwater was wicked and amplified. I looked at all my students and gave them the “OK” sign. They all gave me the sign back.

Thank God. I said to myself.

 

This excerpt just may appear in the next issue of Aquatica Magazine.

Below is Coki Beach where the shooting took place.