Saturday 31 March 2012

SCUBA diving into the fish tornado.

 In January, rather than head straight home from Zimbabwe- Nadeah and I traveled across a few areas of Africa. One of our favorite stops was 10 days on the island of Zanzibar off the coast of Tanzania in the Indian Ocean. Known as one of the Spice Islands it is a major scuba diving destination. Knowing Saipan is also a haven of scuba diving, I took advantage of our traveling time and got my 'Open Water' certification. Though it was trade wind season in Zanzibar, making the boat rocky in the wild waves, down below the surface it was spectacular.

 On my first dive in Saipan, with the oddly named Axe Murderer Tours, I got to see the fabled fish ball- which would be better called a 'fish tornado' as this school of over 300 fish swam in a tubular shape that was about 15 feet high. Mesmerized by it as I approached, my partner took the lead and swam into it as I slowly followed. It eventually closed around us and besides sand far below and sunlight on the waves above- we were surrounded by these fish. An awesome experience to be in the "eye" of the fish tornado.

UPDATED (April 4th)-
Thanks to my new friend on Saipan, divemaster 'MikeRonesia' I have attached here a photo of someone in the 'Fish Tornado' at LauLau beach to give you a glimpse. enjoy


Tuesday 27 March 2012

From arid winter to lush summer

When fellow UCSF pediatric resident Chris Carpenter (who writes a great blog, Backpacks and Stethoscopes, chronicling his adventures) told me about his gig in Saipan last year, I was halfway into my year in Zimbabwe working for "Doctors without Borders" (Medecins Sans Frontieres). It sounded as far away on this world from where I was as could be. In fact it was just about 1/3 of the world away- 8 time zones ahead.

 My work in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe was in a dry, land locked region of a country handicapped under the rule of a paranoid tyrant, Robert Mugabe. Living in a communal home, making very little as a volunteer, I was part of a large MSF team that I absolutely admired and will remember for the rest of my life.

Saipan, on the other hand is a lush tropical island the size of San Francisco (~45 sq miles) that falls under the lesser known U.S. commonwealth. There would be a small team of laid back docs at the island's only hospital. There, both Nadeah and I could work and get a U.S. type salary- much needed to put a dent in each of our looming 6 digit loans. So we made the leap and here we are.

Tune in soon for the story of my first scuba dive the week I arrived and my experience in a fish tornado..