The WakaNahannis at Sea: Last Bits of St. Martin

As you may recall, we won some prizes at the Underwater Easter Egg Hunt last month. As we were wrapping up our stay in St. Martin, we were eager to use our gift certificates up and have some fun. We switched into extracurricular school mode and booked some new adventures.

Back in April, I was momentarily thrilled when the kids won a two-tank dive with the Scuba Fun Dive Centre. Despite the fact it had been over 20 years since I had been diving, I was sure this gift certificate would be mine. I quickly learned that you can start diving at age 10. Simon claimed the prize, and set his sights to go down under.

So one day, the kids and I took a bus to Philipsburg, and Simon had Bomeschool on a completely different boat. Here is Simon's account of his first dive:

On Friday, May 12, 2017, I woke up. It took me awhile to remember what we were doing that day. After awhile of laying in bed, I remembered that I was going to do my first scuba dive! So I woke everyone up, we ate breakfast, and then got in the dinghy and went ashore. When we got ashore, we hopped on a bus to Philipsburg where the Dive Center is located.

When we got to the Scuba Fun Dive Center, we were greeted by a man named Jay. Jay gave my Mom a waiver to sign. He told my Mom and Wavey that if they wanted to go on the dive boat and just snorkel, they could. They agreed to that. Then, Jay brought us into the room where we got our gear. I had my own mask, flippers, and wet suit, so Jay only had to get that stuff for my Mom and Wavey. Then, I got fitted for a BC (buoyancy compensator.) A BC is a vest that holds your tank and gauges that show how deep you are and how much air you have.

Then, me and all the other people who were diving and the the dive boat driver did a lesson and a test to make sure that we remembered all of the lesson. Then, we got on the dive boat and cast off. After that, I met my dive instructor Neils and because I was the only kid there, Neils was my private dive instructor. After I met Neils, the guy driving the boat let me drive for a bit!

When we were safely moored, my dive instructor got his gear on and jumped in. The other instructors showed me how to get the BC on and then when I went to stand up, I could hardly hold up the tank! It must have weighed 50 pounds. The other instructors helped me in the water. It felt great to be in the water again and then we went down. Going down was hard because every 4 feet you have to clear your ears to equalize the pressure. Then if you go a little too far, you have to go back up 4 feet and try it again. Once I got down, it was amazing just gliding through the water and not being rushed to get back up to breathe. I saw a lot of cool crabs, sea urchins, and coral. There was also a lot of statues, a helicopter, a submarine, and lots of shipwrecks to see. There was also an underwater sidewalk. It felt amazing. I would recommend it to anyone!

When we got out of the water and back to the dive shop, we got our gear off and I got a certificate and then we went back home. I hope that someday I can get my own dive gear and do it again!

Simon and Niels, his 1:1 dive instructor

Getting ready to cast off the dive boat

Simon at the helm

In the water

All smiles after the dive

Wavey taking the boat home

Navigating back to the dock

Perma-smiles

Cleaning up after the dive

The following Saturday morning, Wavey and I ventured off to find the Joga studio (www.jogasxm.com), for Wavey's free yoga class. Overlooking the lagoon, this studio and juice bar is a perfect place to relax. While Wavey had her class, I spent 90 minutes catching up on emails and doing my own Mommy meditation (i.e. happily staring blankly into space.)

Later that day, the kids also decided to redeem their certificates for sailing lessons at the St. Maarten Yacht club. Along with their friend Malea, they went out in the Bay for the afternoon. This meant going under the Simpson Bay Bridge, which proved to be entertaining for us, as we sat in the bar and watched.

Leaving the dock

Capsizing the sailboat and preparing to take it under the bridge

And they are off to sea!

The kids came back smiling and safe!

I love Mother's Day. I get excited when my favourite day of the year rolls around. It is my do-nothing-and-feel-no-guilt day. My family is amazing and make me feel like Queen of the World.

My Mother's Day started out with quiet. It was delicious to sleep in. I heard no arguing, no bickering or complaints about school, and a lovely smell wafted over to me from the galley. I awoke and was greeted by my children who were dressed, smiling and piling a stack of pancakes on a platter. I was ushered to the breakfast table in the cockpit and was served a big, purple pancake in the shape of an "M." This was followed by a plate of colourful pancakes in my favourite blues and purples.

I received a new wallet made by Simon, gift certificates from the kids (for everything from massages to being my slave for a day), a lovely purple pop-up card, and a cube with reasons why I am loved. How cool is that?

My one request for the day was to go on a hike--spend the day in the forest and in nature. My family did not disappoint! We took a bus back to Loterie Farms (where we had Wavey's birthday) and hiked for about 3 1/2 hours up to Pic Paradis, the highest peak on the island. It was thrilling to have the clouds pass over us, and to view the island and ocean from above.

Mother's Day in the woods

On the way up

At the top

We returned to the reception and restaurant area completely soaked in sweat, thirsty and ravenous. I was thrilled with the crew's plan of a scrumptious late lunch with fancy drinks.

Passion fruit colada - yum

This smoothie is unlike any other!

We returned to the boat by dusk and Wavey and I played my favourite game SkipBo. I retreated to the hammock to read while the rest of the crew cooked up some scrumptious potato skins for an evening snack. Ohhh, I was so spoiled!

It was hard to get back to school and focus on projects after my little bit of Mother's Day heaven. I returned to the cabin (aka, the sweat pit) for the last days of sewing, and completed the cushions for the cockpit. Our cockpit has been transformed into our new dining/living room where we can all lounge in comfort.

Our cockpit "before" with our grocery store patio cushions

Our new cockpit

We installed bolsters for great back support

The round cushions hold the pod hammocks when the kids aren't using them.

Lounging at anchor

Happy kids

While I was hunkered down sewing, John completed the repair of the bow pulpit that got smashed when we ran into the Custom's Dock in Bermuda last year.

New platform

Almost installed (Note that it hasn't been bolted down yet)

We also hope that we have a solution to water pouring into the chain locker and soaking the kids' bunks when we have waves washing over the deck. John designed a cover for the anchor windlass and I sewed it up. We will try it on our trip to Grenada to see if it keeps the water out!

In the "workshop of chaos" designing the windlass cover

Fingers crossed it works

John also installed a new gib halyard after doing a lovely splice job.

John convinced me to do some hand sewing on the jib to add some UV protection and prevent chafe. (The kids were not happy that we dragged the sail down the forward hatch through their cabin and disrupted a Lego city they were building.)

One important task we had on our list before departing the island was to return to the Zoo and hand in the money that Simon and Wavey raised with their friend Malea. After selling a ton of Rainbow Loom bracelets at beach bars and boat jumbles, they raised over $200 for the St. Maarten Zoo. (www.stmaartenzoo.com)

Simon, Wavey, Malea led the way back to the Zoo and met with Bryce, who runs the Zoo. He was pleased with the kids' efforts and was generous to let them wander around and hold several of the animals. He gave them food to feed the animals, which was a huge hit for everyone. It was very hard to drag these kids away again from all the wonderful animals they adore.

Wavey, Malea, Bryce and Simon

Malea LOVES snakes!

So does Simon

Wavey has a new BOA belt!

Again, we had to check their pockets to make sure they didn't leave with a ferret or guinea pig.

THE final activity before we weighed anchor, was to attend Lagoonies Bar on Monday night where they have an open mic night for anyone who wants to sing. Our friend Shayla on Fantasy, invited us to come and hear her sing and encouraged Wavey to get on stage. For days Wavey practiced a song by New Order called, Bizarre Love Triangle. (Actually, it was Frente's version she sang.) It was great fun and we were all very proud of her!

Shayla, Teeanna, Wavey, Simon and Caleb

Kids waiting for the music to start

Teeanna and Wavey

On May 24th, we were finally ready to leave St. Martin after two months. We hauled our dinghies onboard and sailed away for St. Kitts. Given the wind direction, we altered course for Statia, where we spent the night and carried on to St. Kitts the following day.