Today’s plan…scuba diving at Coki Beach for all but Kim and I. Lowell & Nancy had just completed the classroom and pool portion of becoming scuba certified but this would be their first open water dive…Jim was diving for the first time ever. Bob is a master scuba diver (with many different kinds of certifications) and would be joining the others on their “discovery dive.”
I had taken care of the arrangements for everything we did at the ports for this cruise. Knowing that everyone would be tired after traveling, I scheduled the dives for 10:30 am. This gave us time to have a leisurely breakfast in the MDR before heading to the beach. As we exited the ship, a guy was there coordinating taxi service. He showed us an open air taxi that was headed to Coki Beach and we waited until it filled up.
The cost of the taxi was $9/per person. Others that were with us were simply taking an island tour and the driver would point out things of interest as we drove through the island. When we arrived at Coki Beach we got off and the others continued on with the tour.
The four divers quickly found Peter from the Coki Beach Dive Club and started filling out the paper work.
Kim and I planned to spend the day doing a little lounging on the beach and some snorkeling. We had our own snorkel gear, but spent $5 each to rent chairs. Umbrellas were available for $10 each but after seeing that shade was available we decided it wasn’t necessary.
We were at the end of Coki Beach near Coral World and the snorkeling wasn’t too bad. There were a lot of fish…but not a huge variety of types. With several cruise ships in port that day, the beach was pretty crowded.
The divers spent some time going through the basics and then suited up for the dive.
And into the water they went...
And while the others were diving, Kim and I snorkeled.
When we were ready to head back to the ship, there were taxis waiting. We hadn’t had anything to eat since breakfast so we grabbed a bite to eat at the buffet. Bob, Kim and I then got back off the ship and did a little shopping in the stores by the pier. My only purchase was a small, over the shoulder purse that I used in the evenings on the ship to hold a few things…my other small camera, my S & S card, a comb, etc.
After our little shopping trip we returned to the ship, showered and took a nap before dinner. With so many port days, this became our ritual each afternoon.
Tonight was our first night having dinner at our assigned table (#634) at the back of the upper level of the Pacific dining room. I had checked our table location the night before and was pleased to find out that we were by a window. Unfortunately with early seating the sun was setting about the time we got to the dining room so for most of our meal it was dark outside.
Being so far back on the upper level we missed out on some of the “action” when the waiters performed…but the great service we got from our waiters more than made up for that. Our headwaiter was “Sam” from Thailand and Remesto from the Philippines. Sam’s accent was such that we didn’t understand a single word he said all week…but he understood us well and never mixed up our orders. Remesto also served us well all week…and did so very cheerfully!
If anyone had trouble making up their mind on what to order…Sam just brought both items…or sometimes more! We usually ended up getting to try every appetizer because he brought so many extra to our table. It got to be a joke as the week progressed. We were sure he could read our mind and if we even “thought” about ordering something Sam would bring it!
Bob had tipped off the waiters that it was Kim’s birthday and when dessert time came they brought her a piece of cake with a candle and serenaded her with “Happy Birthday”.
But…they also brought many more desserts. I think she and Jim actually had six desserts that night!
Kim finished off the dinner by dancing with Remesto!
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