Every once in a while, I decide to use this platform for a public service announcement. Whether it's about how much to tip your divemaster or all the things your dive instructor won't tell you, sometimes I leverage the fact that I rank highly in Google searches about Roatan to get the word out about something that I consider important and I'm okay with that.This time, it's going to be in the name of safety.If you are planning to kayak during your visit to Roatan, please read this entire ...
So I’m Moving to Japan… WTF
Yeah, so I know I kinda just slid that in there among all my "I'm leaving Roatan for good blah blah blah" stuff lately... "oh and PS I'm moving to Japan".WTF?(I know, right.)It's actually been a really, really, long time coming. To be accurate, about 10 years in the making! Here's the story.From the time I was a little kid, I have always been fascinated with Japan. Not Asia...not other countries in the area. Just Japan. I wasn't into anime or J-pop, but I was in love with the food, the ...
Giving Back: How You Can Help Roatan
One thing I loved about a lot of the tourists I met over the years on Roatan is that many of them had a strong desire to help the island. When you get there and personally witness snippets of the grinding poverty that some people live in, and realize the government is not going to help them, for most people it ignites a fire to do something to give back.On Roatan there are many worthy charities, some of which I've highlighted before. I highly recommend that all tourists research various ways ...
ICYMI: I’m a Roatan Expat Expert!
Sometimes I forget that not everyone is following me on all my social media channels - so in case you missed it, I wanted to showcase my recent partnership with AirTransat as part of their ExperienceTransat series - I'm the Roatan Expat Expert! (If you were already following along, then I've included something in here for you too... some behind-the scenes photos!)AirTransat is a Canadian charter airline that flies directly to Roatan from select cities in eastern Canada. If you live anywhere ...
The Comedown: Tales from an Ex-Expat
Find any expat blog where the expat has returned to their country of origin, and you'll find the same stories over and over.It's weird being here. My friends here don't understand my experience. This, that and the other thing here now drive me crazy. I miss my expat home and friends there. (So if this post is tl;dr for you, just look at those four lines and that's basically it.)To recap, I'm back in Canada for a few months getting ready to move to Japan in July as an assistant language ...
The End of an Era
At this time I'm usually trying to whip up a belated roundup post, but there wasn't anything to round up. I haven't written any posts. I wasn't even on Roatan. And a lot of big things are happening. So this post is an ode to the end of an era instead.Let's get to the point: I'm leaving Roatan. For good.It's not an easy thing for me to write. Putting something out there like that on my site seems so final, and set in stone. My readers who have followed me on this crazy adventure know that ...
A Canadian Winter
It's been a long, LONG time since I've been in a real Saskatchewan-style Canadian winter.And I don't even think I can call this one a 'real' one, as it's been one of the mildest I've seen in my life. The photo above is from my first day here in January and it was nearly -30C... but now we don't even have snow (the photo below is from yesterday). However, rocking up from the Caribbean tends to make anything under 25C feel a little chilly.Everyone here keeps asking me what the hell I'm doing ...
Roatan Roundup: Months 40 + 41
It's no surprise to me by now that whenever things seem to be humming along here, something will inevitably show up to shake things up!What's new?The last couple months have seen a lot of changes here on Roatan, especially in regards to the diving industry. Crackdowns on dive instructors working illegally (this is a can of worms I'm not interested in arguing about today - but to all the hecklers: I have my residency so save your diatribes for someone else), massive fee increases and new ...
Roatan Review: Blackwater Night Diving with West End Divers
Sometimes, things that happen are just "so Roatan", and if you've ever been here you know what I'm talking about.I was walking to meet my friend for ice cream one evening when I passed West End Divers, and co-owner Gary (more commonly known as Bugs around these parts) stopped me in the street."Have you been drinking?" was the first thing out of his mouth.I wondered if my (100% sober) gait was deceiving people, and responded with a, "no I haven't, thank you very much!""We're doing a ...
My Dream Underwater List
Hi guys - so this is the busiest week of the year, dive-wise, around here. I'm taking a little time off to be underwater. In the meantime, Ankit from AlienAdv is sharing his dream underwater list that any diving enthusiast would envy! Enjoy! My Dream Underwater List Having stalked the best scuba divers online, I've got a glimpse into the lives and dives of the best. I couldn't help myself feel irresistibly drawn to the underwater world. Never the same, it's utterly beautiful landscape is ...