Dispatch from Ride the Blue Sea – El Milagro and the Marx Brothers

The Miracle Marina, our home for two weeks

What is a ‘typical’ day?

There are no typical days.  That has always been a goal, and it has been easy to achieve.  There is so much we want to share with you beyond just an accounting of where we were and where we are. The following is a tidbit of our exploration that may illustrate what we mean, and why it has been something we sought – to have a day that is not typical or routine.

This heron does not have a room, but hangs out here every day.

It is 4:00 pm and we are sitting in the cockpit of Leilani in our slip at El Milagro Marina on Isla Mujeres.  Three of the crew have come to the end of the dock. They brought several ropes, an ice chest on wheels, and a set of minimal scuba gear. By minimal we mean just the basics -a very small air cylinder, probably 200 psi compared to a standard tank of 3000 psi.  There was no BCD (buoyancy compensator), no dive computer, no snorkel, no wet suit, no weight belt - just gear for one guy. 

It was apparent who was going to dive, as a comedic badgering and harassing was directed at one solemn guy.  He didn’t seem to speak much, but if he did, we did not hear as it was lost in the punctuated shouts and orders given by the other two “Marx Brothers”. 

It soon became clear what they were going to do.  Over a half dozen cylinders and collars of concrete, similar to Roman columns with a base, had been stacked on the dock. The “brothers” were going to construct a reef under the dock!  

Reef building materials before their careful placement under the dock

Location of the new artificial reef under the dock

More shouting ensued as the silent diver made his way to the ladder and into the water.  It was very apparent the “plan” was being executed on-the-fly.  The plan may have been discussed something like this, “OK, let’s tie the concrete with this rope, and then drop it in”.

They lowered the first couple of pieces with some effort as the heavy concrete fell and ran the rope through the hands of the only guy lowering.  Concerned, Bud grabbed a pair of work gloves and jumped on the dock to hand them to the startled but appreciative rope handler.  They guy in the water handed the rope back through the space between the boards on the dock.  The rope handler lifted to assist the diver with what was apparently the very careful placement of the reef building materials. 

After several more rounds of reef building, the diver returned to the ladder and struggled up and onto the dock.  His tank had slid through the backpack and was dangling by the regulator hose. He was also out of air. More harassment ensued as well as laughing as each grabbed a beer from the ice chest and a new tank was strapped on the backpack. Little time was wasted to drink more than a swig by the diver, before he returned down the ladder and into the water. 

An additional crew member appeared on the dock and the previous plan was about to change.  Now, the three on the dock would maneuver the reef building materials carefully while, presumably, the diver dodged the falling concrete.  They soon abandoned the rope procedure entirely and just dropped the concrete into the water with huge splashes. 

And then, it was all over.  Job done. The ice chest, the dive gear, and the ropes were quickly gathered and all transported off the dock as if nothing happened.  My gloves were returned rinsed clean with a “Gracias”.   

What is your “typical” day?

Our view from Leilani’s cockpit of the anchorage in Isla Mujeres