TRISTEN ANN

For those who don’t already know, we’re back in Bermuda for another season of diving, and wow, does it feel good to be back! June absolutely flew by as we got back in the water, said hello to all our fishy friends, and reunited with our teammates.

Outside of work, we’ve been making the most of island life by exploring both above and below the water and getting to know Bermuda even better than we did last year. Naturally, our very first stop was Art Mel’s for our favorite fish sandwich on the island. And if you think there’s a better one… you can keep that opinion to yourself. 😉

We finally made it over to Admiralty Park, where we spent the day cliff jumping, exploring caves, and soaking up the incredible views. It’s such a perfect spot for a picnic, watching the sunset, or simply reading on the beach. Alaric and I have been rereading the Harry Potter books, and it’s been such a fun beach activity. That is, when we’re not in the water throwing a football around and floppily diving after it, fully embracing how ridiculous we probably look.

We also spent a day exploring St. George’s, discovering hidden beaches and snorkeling in some beautiful spots. I’ve been getting pretty confident driving us around on the scooter, which means Alaric has been getting some well-deserved passenger princess time to sit back and enjoy the views. He’s only had to bail off the back once… so I’d say I’m basically an expert now. 😉

We even squeezed in a three-day trip back to Chicago for his brother’s wedding, and every red-eye flight was worth it. Jesse and Ryan’s wedding was truly magical. It was the first wedding I’ve ever been to where literally everyone was on the dance floor from the DJ’s first song to the very last. It was so special to witness that much love all in one place.

Back on the island, Alaric and I finally visited the BUEI museum, and it ended up being way cooler than we expected. They have artifacts recovered from some of the shipwrecks we dive on for work, an impressive shell collection, and a fascinating look at the history of deep-sea exploration around Bermuda.

Before we knew it, July had somehow flown by even faster. Work picked up, sleep became a constant battle, but we were also spoiled with an entire week of unreal diving conditions. The ocean looked like glass, the sun was shining, and the underwater visibility was some of the best we’ve ever seen.

Of course, we had to take advantage of the beautiful weather, so we went wakeboarding. We were unbelievably sore for the next few days, but it was completely worth it. We even managed to get up together and hold hands, which was somehow even cuter than it sounds.

Some of our favorite moments, though, have been the simple ones at home. We’ve spent so many evenings swimming in the pool, playing fetch and mermaids, jumping into the ocean, and watching the incredible sunsets that never seem to get old. We absolutely love our little apartment. It isn’t fancy, but it’s perfect for us, and honestly, we don’t need much.

Of course, all that beautiful weather couldn’t last forever. As I’m writing this, we’re waiting out a tropical storm. As much as we love being busy with work, we’re also grateful for a couple of unexpected days off to catch up on life. We welcomed the storm the only way we knew how—with a staff party that somehow ended with everyone jumping into the pool fully clothed, laughing as lightning flashed in the distance.

Lots of smiles, lots of love, and lots to be grateful for. Life is really, really good.

Oh… and yes, I cut all my hair off! I rocked a bob when I was five, and I’d like to think I still pull it off.

Enjoy this little collection of moments from the past couple of months. I hope everyone is having the best summer, and until next time, friends… xoxoxo