Sea Rover’s 54th Clinic

I have attended Rover Clinics for most of my life, but I arrived at the Boston Copley Hotel to begin the weekend activities not knowing what to expect.  I could only imagine what the weekend would be like.  Friday began with COMS or Career Opportunities in Marine Sciences, hosted by George Buckley for high school students.    As the morning went on, I was introduced to Sea Rovers, speakers, and the past interns with whom I would be working with this summer.  Watching Ryan Hunter (2007 Intern) present, I knew the bar had been set high.  The weekend continued with a pre-Clinic Reception at the Gamble Mansion.  Here I met a lot of interesting people all with one common thing, a love of the ocean.  Richard Simon and Kate Douglas (the first two Scalli Interns) were very helpful with introductions and networking around the room.  I went to bed with my head spinning, thinking of all of the wonderful opportunities I would have this summer.

After getting up early on Saturday to help with setting up the Clinic, the day was filled with presentations and speaking with the Sponsors.  In the afternoon, I was able to sit in on an underwater photography workshop with Jim and Pat Stayer. The presentation was wonderful and covered everything from buying a camera to editing video and everything in between.  Racing off to dinner before the film festival, I couldn’t believe I was sitting at the same table with Evening Speakers Chuck Davis, Bob Talbot, Steve Drogin, Stan Waterman, and Jill Heinerth.  Soon after we were at the Evening Film Festival, where I watched amazing footage of the speaker’s latest adventures.  Then it was time for Patrick Scalli to bring me to the stage and officially introduce me as the 2008 Intern.  All I kept thinking about on the way to the stage was “don’t trip”.  Afterwards, I attended the reception back at the hotel, which included the traditional dunking of new Sea Rovers into the silver bowl.  I was very surprised when I heard my name called as the next one to be dunked.

Sunday, I was fitted for my dry suit at the DUI booth by Faith Ortins and had a meeting with Dave and Pat Morton about the Internship.  I was astounded when they told me that I would be going to Bonaire first.  I couldn’t believe the weekend I just had and I am very grateful for the huge welcome I received from the Sea Rovers.