Mother Nature

A Very Blessed Beachy Escapade
CCC Southern Leyte, Philippines
By Violeta Imperial (Aug 8 to Sept 10, 2007)

“The more I learn about the Marine Life, the more I love to dive in the same place again and again and again, and again because I was able to identify marine life. Love the Pointies and the dive exams.”

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So many dive instructors are offering me free advance open water dive course so I can bring them more clients, but I choose to join Coral Cay because of the Science Week. I want to learn more about marine life and get updated on present environment situation that dive shops don’t offer. And what ever I learn, will share it to equally blessed friends. Thank GOD that I was accepted, it is an honor and pleasure to be part of the CCC Conservation project. (thank you, too, Claudio).

I was warmly welcomed by Wang (Filipino counterpart), then Nigel Dunkley (the Field Supervising Officer) and Lizzy (Expedition Leader). Everybody is so warm and the volunteers from U.K. are so curious. Collete is the first one who introduces herself to me, then the rest, but can’t remember the names. Then came Nick (the sea slug physicist) and Joe (great cod cool artist), three of us are the newbies for the night. Liz is so friendly giving me orientation in the household responsibilities. Katrina (American camp survivor) is also so friendly and adventurous. Lizzy is also the community mom, where you can have girly talks also.

We immediately started the Open Water Course for Nick and Joe, and refresher for me the following day. Nigel is the best Dive instructor I ever had, because he makes everybody happy and smile (and he has the loveliest blue eyes I ever seen.) He knows when to really discipline and chill and kid around. He is the wisest and most mature person around the camp that time. The two boys seem to be very challenged to learn scuba diving. But because Nigel is a great instructor, we were able to earn our Advance Open Water PADI Card with so much fun. The beach is so so, but the very healthy, colorful, lush marine forest and life compensate for it. Love the two dives a day and never got bored in all of the dives. Plus the very lovely and romantic sunset.

Joe, the great cod, thank u for moving the beds, that gives me the full window view of scenic Ampo Beach, plus all the space I need. Dear Joe, you are really GOD’s Serapin for me all the time I am in the camp. GOD love me so much and everybody!!!

Then Science Week, I have very very high enthusiasm for learning what I don’t know. I did not expect it to be very very challenging. We (Iain, Amy, Joe, me & Nick) decided to do the 1week crash course because of excitement to serve). Luke Harvie, our Science Officer (sexy, ooopppsss English Gentleman) was able to make the lesson fun and dynamic and interesting, by giving unwholesome key words for the very challenging scientific names. Learned about the Hard Corals, then Soft Corals, Algae, Sponges, Inverts and Fishes. Richard, help me to get through the challenges. My favorite are the Corals, next are the fishes. I love the rainbow runners.

The more I learn about the Marine Life, the more I love to dive in the same place again and again and again, and again because I was able to identify marine life. Love the Pointies and the dive exams. After learning about marine life, my introduction changed, from “Hi I am Violet, local counterpart” to “Hi I am Violet, non acropora, submissive” (ha ha ha ha ha ha ha)

Then came Theresa, the new Dive Instructor, she encourage me to try night diving. I am a claustrophobic person, that enjoys wreck diving so much (ironic?), did go thru and  enjoyed my first night dive, but I will not do it again, ever. (he he he)

And the more I learn about the kind and fun people around me, the more I am enjoying my volunteer life in the community. I honestly am so stimulated to satisfy my curiosity  about their mindset, socially, emotionally, sexually, intellectually, spiritually.  I learned lots of new English English vocabulary (I grew up in American English setting). That word F@#k%^g is an adverb. Able to understand their beliefs. I think they also discovered that I am not a typical conservative Filipina (he he he).

Reef Check and Marine Protected Area surveys came, here is where we apply all what we learn in the science week. We are doing marine life inventory and health check. Learned about the cause of damages in the reef and present environment situation. These activities, increased my curiosity to know the interpretation of the Marine Scientists, on the data gathered. For me, the interpretations is very very important because it will give greater meaning to what volunteers are doing and will be a great evidence on present environment situation, to help economic and political leaders to more sustainable and environment friendly decisions. 

And of course, Claudio de Sassi also (Project Officer, Swiss, the coolest guy & great leader). His very passionate endeavors on environment conservation, community organizing, and setting up Marine Protected Areas is very very inspiring. He is a great asset to Coral Cay for all his accomplishments, they should start paying him, big time, before bigger Environmental NGO pirate him. (just a suggestion )

Then came, Harriet (new Project Officer), thank you for accepting the challenges. Then new dive students Brook (from Eutophia) and Miguel (from Portugal) and Lawrence Hoy (sweetest yummy English gentleman I ever met, Fred the Fish)

I salute all the volunteer staff and volunteers for giving their valuable time, self, money,  and service in marine data gathering, keeping the household clean and all the fun and kindness in the community (90% wholesome, I think he he he).

We are indeed blessed so much till my last Sunday in CCC Community, we did an open Sunday Environment Education to local kids of Padre Burgos. Games, snorkeling, film showing, scuba dunk, Web of Life and Fred the Fish, puppet story was played, where I played Rosa and Ana (girlfriend of Fred).  A very blessed Sunday.

After my 4weeks program in the CCC Community,
I lost 20lbs (and losing) & got great sexy tan lines.
Hope to find a yahoogroup for all the Filipino counterpart, to update our endeavor sharing in our own communities.
Hope to have a bigger marine sanctuary in Baler Bay, Aurora.
Hope to meet Mr. Peter Raines and Mr. David Bellamy, gentlemen, you inspire me so much. You must be so sensitive to all GOD’s blessing for caring for creation so much.
Hope all the dive shops in the world can also help in the monitoring and conservation of environment.
Hope that the Dwarf Dolphin and Harvie Rabbitfish, be included in CCC Marine Life Book (with all the data gathered, CCC should print it’s own book already)
Will to seek funds to sponsor a water proof marine life flip mini book. I am on my halfway power pointing the target life forms, genere and species (la lang)
I prefer living and fulfilling my hopes, they are very challenging but possible. I guess, I have the same passion for environment conservation like Claudio and the CCC Family.

All I want to do is for GOD’s Glory, in gratitude for all the blessing I received, and blessing I shall share to humanity thru conservation of creation. I pray to GOD to Bless Coral Cay family more. From the community of Nature Awareness and Conservation Club, Inc, thank you very very much. (http://philecotourism.wordpress.com)

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