It kinda rains a lot here!

Depending on who you talk to it's either 'normal' or the dry season is late coming.

Either way, there's a bit of swell running (which is great for the surfers here) or the seas haven't calmed down a lot before the next downpour - and the consequent poor visibility

Haven't been on here for a while as I don't have my laptop with me and the one pc in the place I'm staying is always in use.

All good here. Not much diving going on at the moment but helping Dave (along with Robin, Jessica, Shawn and Dave) get his dive shop back up, open and running.

Will post more but having no laptop makes things a tad slower...

Dave, Jessica, Robin and myself went to Limon to locate the anchor lost by a freighter about a week or so ago.

We made our search plan, had all the information and equipment that we needed and under the scorching hot sun took the boat up to Limon.

We anchored near the gps location given to us and, Dave, Jess and myself got our scuba gear and went in to begin the search...

Five minutes later, we were out...!!!!

My dive computer showed the depth being 14.6m - unfortunately, I didn't know this until I resurfaced as it was PITCH BLACK from 7m down and none of us could see any of our instruments (depth gauge, compass, contents gauge - nothing).

Totally unprepared for absolutely NO visibility Dave and I tried a second time but to no avail - we surface, abort the search and return, a bit deflated to Puerto Viejo.

None of us had ever dived in those conditions. The best way I can explain it is sit in a dark room, close your eyes and then 'double the darkness', that'd be close.

Then, because we're underwater with no idea of depth, direction, length of dive, no idea on air consumption, and, once you are off the seabed, you can't tell which way is up it doesn't make for a pleasant environment.

Oh yeah, did I also mention there are Scorpion Fish around here, someone also mentioned a possibility of Tiger Sharks and crocodiles... ah well, maybe next time!!

Unfortunately, down here in Puerto Viejo, I have no phone signal!

I'm told that the only people who can hae mobile phones/Costa Rican SIM cards are locals or businesses.

Basically, if you need to contact me then it's email, Facebook or I may see you on Skype...

Adam and Emily drive me to Cancun airport and I fly across to Mexico City and, after a two hour gap catch the flight down to San Jose.

A $20 taxi ride to the hotel and I manage to get my head down at 1 o'clock in the morning.

A walk around San Jose during the day:

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...and catch the bus for the 4.5 hour drive to Puerto Viejo in the morning.

Back over to Playa Del Carmen and then down to Puerto Aventuras to sort my stuff out to [not to take] to Costa Rica.

My mate Dave says that petty crime can be a problem so advises me against bringing 'certain' stuff.

What to take, what not to take?

Isn't it amazing how easily qnd quickly we get used to 'luxuries' and take them for granted: laptop, ipods, etc.

I can't for one minute imagine travelling without my ipod so it's coming with me. Just hope it stays with me.

Get back to Adam and Emily's in PA and find out that Adam is on a fitness phase at the moment. Guess no hangovers between now and Monday then (him not me :-)

Blue XT Sea is another small dive operation and we have a maximum of 6 divers on the boat over the 3 days I am there.

There is a fair bit of wind from the north so all the dives are on the southern side of the island (which is a pity but that's life)

We dive:

- Palanqua Caves
- Delilah Reef
- Eagle Ray Wall
- Columbia Deep
- San Francisco
- (and one other I can't remember the name of :-)

I have to admit that these dives are amongst some of the best that I have experienced. The reefs are amazing, the sea life abundant and the experience is great in every way.

A little cold again towards the end of the dives (it's that shortie again :-) but is a small price to pay for 60-70 minute dives in such a place.

Best experience was seeing 8 Eagle Rays: first a single one, then a group of four, then 3 more!! Fantastic.

Unfortunately, my two-and-a-half year old 5.1 megapixel Sony Cybershot camera decided to give up and I got no decent photo's at all - gutted!

The guys I dived with: Chuck, Taren, Kenny, Mike, Vikki, etc., said they'd send me some...please do.

Carlos from Aquanauts recommends a dive center over in Cozumel so, hangover in tow, I get dropped off in Playa Del Carmen and catch the ferry across to Cozumel.

It's only a half hour or so and is a little lumpy: the weather forecast for the next few days isn't brilliant but I've booked my flight to Costa Rica for the 9th February and need to get across to Cozumel and dive if it's going to happen.

I check in at the Plaza Cozumel which, somehow (I don't know how), has a four star rating!! The room is a fair size, is clean but that's it really - 4 star, mmmmm!

Walk down to Blue XT Sea dive center and book a 6 dive package for the next 3 days.