Many people have been asking me about my current projects, so I wanted to share some updates. After an incredibly successful year, I am embarking on a new adventure in my career. What type of success? All sorts! My LLC Digi Talk Labs did very well for itself in the last year, I grew ScubaDiverLife.com substantially through social media and am now getting incredible traffic and attention to the community and social networks. I also have finally met with my fitness and health goals, after almost two years with a personal trainer. I’m eating healthier and living a much healthier lifestyle. When you’re as busy as I am, working on projects and am constantly being asked to help out on more, it’s important to take care of yourself.
Google Mountain View Office
I’ve transitioned out of my job at Microsoft and today was my first day of my new social media position at Google. I have now moved from Seattle to the Silicon Valley. This is a very exciting time for me. Google is such a vibrant place full of positive and motivated energy. Google has a University campus vibe … a community of people gathered together to learn and create. I am looking forward to:
• Googler-taught classes on a variety of topics, as well as a library of short
instructional videos
• Free shuttles to and from work with wireless available for lap top use
• On-site classes available through Google University. Topics include workplace essentials, leadership, people management, personal growth
• The Authors@Google program brings authors on-site for informal talks about their recently published books
Today was a great day and I am feeling excited and thankful as I begin my new adventure here at Google!
All the while, I am still continuing to enjoy life, taking photos, scuba diving, traveling, kite boarding and much more.
For months I had been looking at the Manta Ray diving adventures in Kona, Hawaii. I had heard from friends that it was just beyond amazing, and that “words can’t describe the dive”. The LA times marked this dive adventure as one of the top ten dives in the world.
I wasn’t sure about going to Hawaii until some snow hit Seattle, WA. The roads were ice and Thanksgiving weekend was days away, that was my sign. I called up Jacks Diving Locker, asking them about their Manta Ray PADI specialty certification. By then end of the call I had eight dives booked and four specialties. I then turned my head back to my computer and right to Expedia. It was done, I was off to Hawaii the next day.
Once in Kona I ran to my hotel room dropped my stuff off and went immediately to Jacks. Once I was there I got all my course work and sized for all my gear.
The next few days I spent doing my other specialties. Finally it was Friday – I had four dives booked and could not wait for the last one. That being the night dive with the Manta Rays. I spoke with many divers in the area, asking what the record count for Manta Rays were during the event. I quickly discovered that it was thirty six!
The Manta Ray dive is a two tank dive with most companies including Jacks. Both dives take place at Eel Cove – although once the sun sets, the dive spot morphs into Manta Heaven.
After our first dive, the divers and snorkelers sat anxiously on the boat, listening to the dive masters instructions on what to expect down there. They also informed us that about 17% of the time there are no Mantas. My heart sank as they dealt this information out.
During our first dive one of the dive masters had placed lights in an specific area called the ‘campfire’. As we waited on the boat and watched the sun set, we saw the lights that were placed in the campfire through the oceans water. The lights attract plankton and Manta Rays eat plankton. Manta Rays actually need to eat 10% of their body weight each week, so you can imagine how much plankton they need. Some Manta Rays are well over one thousand pounds.
It was time, we put on our gear and waited for our turn to drop into the ocean. Lights in one hand and cameras in the other. We started our decent down to the campfire. As I sunk down to the bottom, I could see at least twenty other divers their already. Their lights shining up towards the surface. I found my place to settle and looked up at the snorkelers dangling feet. The event in it’s self without the Manta Rays are quite an experience on it’s own.
We waited about ten minutes and BOOM, a male Manta Ray comes into our man made beam of light. Summer-salting through the ocean, collecting plankton. Most divers eyes wide open, from the shear beauty of the animal. A good fifteen minutes go by and the Manta disappears for a bit. Our leader Keller decided to take us on a little adventure.
We found an Eel between some coral, we watch as he pecks into some coral and pulls a good sized fish into his mouth. He then drops back into the coral with his new dinner. Something I had never seen before.
The Manta had returned and we go back to enjoy more of it’s beautiful movement underwater. At around sixty minutes most of the group had gone back up to the boat. Keller was asking me questions on his slate about the Manta. This is part of the Manta Ray specialty. Then he wrote that it’s time to go up. I followed him as he grabed the milk carton of lights. We swam towards the boat when suddenly he drops the carton. He starts banging on the back of his tank, a special signal to let me know that he ,sees something. I am thinking that there are some more rays, then I look up to see his lights moving further and further away from me. I start kicking hard to try and catch up with him, I glimpse down at my computer to see that we have gone from 30ft to about 60ft. I then hear them, there are dolphins, but I can’t see them yet. I swam around with my light about 20ft from Keller, to see three dolphins swimming around him and his camera. I start making noises to call them over, praying that they come say hello to me. It works, they swam over my direction and I get to say my hello. We stayed there for a good 10 minutes and then I signal to Keller that I need to go up as my air is below 500 psi at this point. We headed to the surface.
When we got to the surface I quickly lost focus of getting on the boat as the Manta Ray is now directly below me. He had moved from the campfire as nobody was there anymore with no lights. Me and another diver were floating, shining our lights watching the Manta collect more plankton. The Manta Ray does more summer-salts below us, lifting us slightly out of the water on each full rotation. What more can happen? The dolphins have surfaced and are no more than 7ft away from us!
They swim by and say hello, my attention quickly shifted back to the large Manta swimming just below me. The dive was precious and I was close to crying out of happiness. I got back on the boat and sat at the edge, just watching the Manta collect more plankton.
The boat took us back to the harbor and Keller shows us his footage. I am so thankful he captured the dolphins as my camera had run out of batteries. We all watched and stared at the wonderful moment we have all just experienced.
The next day I was sitting on Jacks boat, trying to figure out how I could go on the Manta dive again. Jacks doesn’t go out on Saturday and Tuesday. So I calledup Kona Honu and booked myself on their Manta Dive. I was hoping to see more than one Manta feed. Now I am at ten dives in three and a half days.
I get to experience one Manta Ray again! This time a female, much larger than the last. They call her Big Bertha! Although the dive was not the same as the first, however, the shear beauty of watching a Manta Ray feed underwater is something that I will not only forget but will do many many more times again. I will go back in search of seeing more than one Manta. It was the most amazing experience of my life (so far).
One random day in July, I received a random phone call from a random friend. “You gotta come to Affiliate Summit, crazy times are to be had” – that was enough for me!
Within minutes of the phone call I had my flight booked to good old New York City.
Of course the excitement grew over the month and I of course started my online networking for the event. Hitting up people on Twitter, Facebook and on the Affiliate Summit Ning.
I really had no idea what to expect – but I loved it! What was scheduled to be a 7 day trip, turned out being a 21 day trip. The experience was well worth it – and I will never
miss an Affiliate Summit ever again. The people were just amazing and the networking was more than valuable for me. After just hoping into the Affiliate marketing space – I was
eager to meet other affiliates and talk strategy with them. From social to blogging to emailing – there was much knowledge to me soaked up.
July 18 2010 marked the day as my first Kiteboarding experience. I had been playing with a training kite for quite some time, and was ready to get in the water. After being surrounded by many people at work who enjoy the sport – it peaked quite an interest.
I decided that Squamish, BC would be the perfect place to test the waters. So I jumped in my car with a few friends and ended up at “The Spit” in Squamish.
It was incredibly windy and cold – perfect conditions for learning how to Kiteboard.
The lesson was 3 hours and half of it was going over sheeting, self-water rescue & setting up the kite. After that I finally hit the water with my instructor.
He launched the kite and I jumped into a small boat with him. We ventured off away from all the other kiteboarders into the middle of the ocean. He then stopped and attached the kite to me. I quickly learned how to control the kite and the importance of sheeting. It was quite funny as at first I didn’t understand and pulled in on the control bar rather quickly. This is called sheeting- in, this powers up the kite and as I flew 15 feet in the air to land in the ocean- my lesson had been learned.
Soon enough he had me in the ocean doing body drags. Body dragging is an essential skill in kiteboarding. If you lose your board, this is the way you get back to it in the ocean. You have a rather large kite attached to you – so swimming is not really an option. Since these kites are well over 1k each – you also don’t want to lose your kite! Soooo.. after swallowing gallons of water trying to body drag, I finally got that down.
Unfortunately after all of that I only had 10 minutes left in the lesson. These last precious moments were spent trying incredibly hard to get up on the board. I got up for a second or two then bailed. The lesson was over and I was beyond drained.
Overall it was a great experience and I am excited to add this sport to my weekend routines!
Here are some highlights of the day:
Above is me and my buddy Alan – I am wearing a rather large dry-suit and life jacket. It was quite uncomfortable – and that’s the last
time I will ever wear a dry-suit
This is the moment right before getting up on my board for a few seconds!
Here I am learning how to body drag in the water. Not the funnest aspect of the sport
This is one of my favorite shots that I took from Jon & Ken’s wedding. This was taken outside the Vancouver Rowing Club in Vancouver, BC.
If I can let you know anything, it’s that these two people mean a heck of a lot to me. I have known them for only seven years. The fun and adventures that we have had together are priceless. It was hard to not cry during the wedding! During the ceremony Jon and I had made eye contact and held it for around 1 minute. He later came up to me and said that he almost lost it when that happened! I of course was balling!
The day was perfect and the days surrounding the event were just as amazing! Holding the wedding in Vancouver, BC was a brilliant idea, and I am
so grateful they did.
It turned out to be a little bit of a University reunion. With many celebrations with new and old friends.
The ceremony took place at Queen Elizabeth Park in the celebration pavilion & the reception was at the Vancouver Rowing Club.
The sun came out this day and was shining for everyone involved! How perfect!
I of course with my nifty new iPhone 4 was trying to film as much as I could. Sooooo I put together a little video of the event. (above)
The Cheaper Show was a great hit this year! Located in the heart of Gastown at the new W2 Storyeum. 200 Artisit were chose to display two of their best! Each Art piece is set at $200- no matter who you may or may not be. This is the place to line up in Vancouver, BC to get some great Art for a great price.
The Cheaper Show has never been a profit-based event. Admission is by donation and the artists receive 75% of the sale with the remainder going to offset the production costs. The focus of the show is to create a greater observance of talent with both established and underexposed artists.
For the past 7 years I have been lucky enough to have Kendra Whynot & Jon Kalkman in my life. I met them in my first year of University. Jon lived in Shirley Baker and I was in Hugh Stevens. Ken and Jon were both in their second year, and had been dating for just under a year. Jon decided to do one more year in residence. Our groups formed and friends were made. We became very close friends and Kendra and I formed an amazing connection. Throughout the next 4 years we would hang out, party and go on awesome adventures together.
The time soon came fro Jon & Ken to leave Victoria, they were a year ahead of me and were off to discover the real world. One day I got a call from Kendra while she and Jon were in Calgary. She was really upset because the only school she had gotten into for her Masters was in Toronto. Jon had been accepted into UBC for education.
The two of them had to split ways for an entire year. The good thing though was that I was off to Vancouver as well.
Jon and I became very close that year while in Vancouver. Spending almost every weekend together and many weekdays. Playing tennis, discovering music and much more. Then once again it was time for Jon to leave. He joined Kendra in Toronto for her final year in her Masters program.
Almost one year later I get a call from a screaming Kendra. Jon had just proposed to her and she was able to reach me in excitement. I was honored to be one of the first people she told. Jon and Kendra go golfing quite a bit, and he had proposed to her by writing on a golf ball the words ‘Marry Me’.
Their wedding is in June and I am honored to be the MC for the wedding. Stay Tuned for some ridiculous photos and memories!
It’s always great to work with wonderful people. Here is a small collection of photos from the past few months. I must say I have a wonderful team to work with. This is how we break the silence when things are getting a little to serious…
