This is a bit out of sequence but I would be remiss not to post something about our dive training on Long Island. We wanted to improve our snorkeling experience so we decided to do a short private course with Vertical Blue, a free-diving school run by William Trubridge, a multiple world record holder and past world champion. Heaven alone knows what he thought of teaching a couple of old geezers who, by his standards, could barely swim much less dive but he was helpful and graceful throughout. In fact he was probably the most 'tuned' person we have ever come across. Mentally and physically he was so on his game it was awesome. During the training he was totally focused on improving our skills and helping us understand the mental game of free diving. Watching him demo activities was a delight. He moved in the water like a dancer. He was so unassuming he could have been the hired help and not someone who has dived to 100m with no equipment, including fins and who can hold his breath for more than seven minutes.
Anyway, we learnt a great deal that will help us dive better and diving in the blue hole was a trip in itself. It is at the end of an otherwise ordinary beach and drops 600' to the bottom of a cavern that is more than 600' wide.
A truly memorable experience. Thank you William.