-
Bora Bora Travels
Read more: Bora Bora TravelsMy next series is inspired by the island of Bora Bora in French Polynesia. Many new paintings are coming soon! French Polynesia is currently closed to tourism, so I’m grateful that I was able to travel there back in August 2020. It’s difficult to talk about this trip since it was during the pandemic. I…
-
Moorea Travels
Read more: Moorea TravelsIa Orana/Hello! I somehow magically lucked out and was able to travel to French Polynesia two months ago. I took a break from painting after I returned, but I’m back and starting my next series inspired by the island of Moorea. Many new paintings are coming soon! My Moorea dive movie is up! Apparently manta…
-
New Series Coming Soon: Curacao Dreams
Read more: New Series Coming Soon: Curacao DreamsContinuing with my theme of revisiting past dive trips (because who knows when I will be able to travel again), my newest series is devoted to the time I spent in Curacao back in 2015. During my very first dive trip in Cozumel in 2011, I met an incredible dive instructor who I credit for…
-
BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 3: Bimini
Read more: BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 3: Bimini“Have you heard of Ferrari and Lamborghini?” Antonio asked, as his machete sank into the half-frozen tuna carcass. “Uh…yes.” “That’s where I’m from. Modena. My family makes balsamic vinegar.” The thought of balsamic vinegar drizzled on cherry-tomato bruschetta temporarily lulled me away from the smell of decomposing fish guts. I had eaten nothing but chicken…
-
BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 2: Exuma
Read more: BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 2: ExumaFrom the plane’s window, I watched the imposing clouds of New Providence island morph into carefree clouds that hovered above the unending Exuma cays. The sapphire blue ocean transformed into neon turquoise with patches of exposed bright white sand. The islands appeared flat and deserted. Each time we passed over an island, I assumed we…
-
BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 1: Nassau
Read more: BAHAMAS, CHAPTER 1: NassauAs the plane descended into cloud-checkered Nassau, pine trees waved from the runway. “Is this normal weather for February?” I asked the taxi driver as I watched the Bahamian sky darken. “Eh…the seas aren’t usually this rough. No boats went out today.” I shrugged, “Well, I’m here, so…” It was hard for me not to…
-
COCOS, CHAPTER 5: Return to Manuelita
Read more: COCOS, CHAPTER 5: Return to ManuelitaOn the backside of Manuelita during the first dive, I watched a gang of whitetips swarm the reef until I was distracted by a cloud of bigeye jacks approaching us from the channel. As the jacks descended onto the reef, they instantly split off into pairs; one jack remained silver and the other turned black…
-
COCOS, CHAPTER 4: Treasure Island
Read more: COCOS, CHAPTER 4: Treasure Island“Before we board the pangas, I have to say something important…” Angelo paused for dramatic effect. “You are not allowed to dig for treasure. You won’t find anything if you do, we already tried. Don’t touch anything or carve your name on the rocks or you won’t be allowed to dive again.” I scoffed as…
-
COCOS, CHAPTER 3: Dirty Rock and Alcyone
Read more: COCOS, CHAPTER 3: Dirty Rock and AlcyoneOver the next few days, it was hard for me to stop thinking about the magic of Manuelita. All I wanted to do was dive with more tiger sharks. But, the other divers wanted to find hammerhead cleaning stations in the deep waters surrounding the island. Fights erupted over any diver who unknowingly entered a…
-
COCOS, CHAPTER 2: Tiger Sharks and Boobies
Read more: COCOS, CHAPTER 2: Tiger Sharks and BoobiesDivemaster Angelo began his briefing for the first dive: “As all of you have probably heard, there were some recent incidents at Manuelita. A diver and a divemaster surfaced away from the rest of the group. When the tiger appeared, the divemaster thought he was doing a good thing by kicking the tiger shark to…
Megan Willis Art 