Wahoo Reef weather station
Sunday, May 19, 2024
Temperature: 88
Humidity: 70%
Precipitation: All signs point to ‘no’
Local Author Releases Third Blacktip Island Misadventure Novel
Copies of On Wahoo Reef, the newest Blacktip Island comic misadventure novel, were available for sale Friday morning at the island’s Cracked Spines independent bookstore. (photo courtesy of Ann Bouquin / Cracked Spines)
Local award-winning author Tim W. Jackson today released his third Blacktip Island novel, On Wahoo Reef, via all major book distributors, his personal website and Cracked Spines, the small Caribbean Island’s independent bookstore.
Jackson summarized the novel as:
‘Wally Breight’s a miserable-in-his-job P.R. executive who dreams of escaping to happily-ever-after in the Caribbean. When he stumbles across a run-down scuba diving operation for sale on Blacktip Island, he snaps it up and settles into paradise. But paradise has other ideas. His dive boat’s a lemon. His business partner proves the age of piracy isn’t dead. Scuba guests are scarce. And a free-spirited dive mistress might party him into an early grave. If Wally can’t get a handle on paradise, pronto, he’ll be leaving Blacktip Island faster than a coconut in a hurricane.’
“It’s a comic misadventure for anyone who’s ever dreamed of trading the nine-to-five rat race for an idealized life of hammocks and palm trees in the tropics,” Jackson said. “If Northern Exposure hooked up with Margaritaville, their love child would be On Wahoo Reef.”
The International Review of Books called On Wahoo Reef, “A great story with good pace and dialogue, enigmatic characters who are easy to like, and a refreshing feel-good element. Recommended.”
The Manhattan Book Review described it as, “Lighthearted, with interesting characters and funny dialogue. Jackson has done a great job. Once you start reading, you can’t stop.”
Local reaction was not as appreciative.
“If it’s anything like his last two books, I’m gonna hurt him. Badly,” divemaster Alison Diesel said. “‘Cause of that grommet, the world thinks we’re a bunch of bat-shit yahoos. It’s total crap, him slagging us down to get cheap laughs from total strangers.”
Others echoed that sentiment.
“He calls me ‘sasquatch’ again in this one, I’m gonna launch a book, too. Upside his head,” handyman Dermott Bottoms said. “Then rip his arms out their sockets and beat him with ‘em. The boy can run all he wants, but ain’t no place to hide on this little rock.”
The novel’s first chapter is available as a free download via The Blacktip Times.
On Wahoo Reef is available for purchase at:
timwjackson.com for paperbacks.
Jackson will host a launch party Friday night at The Last Ballyhoo bar, with free drinks and live music by island bands The Social Morays, Effing Zeagles, and Young Jacques and the Double Hose.
A portion of the proceeds from all Blacktip Island novel and short story sales goes to the Coral Reef Alliance.
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, May 12, 2024
Temperature: 89
Humidity: 68%
Precipitation: Not happenin’
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Leaders Announce Island Slogan Contest
Blacktip Island residents and visitors have flooded the small Caribbean island’s Heritage House ballot box with suggestions for the island’s new slogan. (photo courtesy of WrS.tm.pl)
Concerns about dropping tourist numbers have prompted the Blacktip Island Chamber of Commerce to launch a contest to create a catch phrase to attract more visitors to the small Caribbean island.
“We need something that’ll grab folks by the heartstrings and not let go,” C. of C. president Harry ‘Scratcher’ Wrasse said. “We’ve got a whizz-bang tourism product here. The problem’s getting folks to notice. Right now, we get lost among the other Tiperon Islands. Blacktip’s motto might as well be, ‘Hey, We’re Here, Too.’
“Ideally, a catchy saying’ll also drum up community spirit,” Wrasse said. “Everybody on the island—resident or visitor—is invited to make as many suggestions as they want. Then, end of the month, we’ll have a community vote on which one’s best. And once the final vote’s announced, there’ll be the usual celebration and debauchery afterwards.”
Island leaders hoped to focus the slogan on the island’s natural beauty.
“These catch phrases needs to focus on nature and the sea and fish and such,” de facto island mayor Jack Cobia said. “Scuba diving. That’s the sort of thing that’ll draw folks in. Our favorite suggestion so far’s my ‘Blacktip Island: Surface With a Smile!’ It may be hard to top that one.”
Other popular suggestions include:
- If It Ain’t Broke, Don’t Fix It
- Well, I Heard . . .
- Blacktip Is Fin-tastic
- Free Beer! (Just Kidding)
- Welcome To the Coconut Telegraph
- If Your Heart Ain’t On Blacktip, Get Your Ass Off
The contest elicited strong emotions among island residents.
“I’m doing everything in my power to make sure that ‘Surface With a Smile’ bollocks goes down in flames,” Coryl Bleeching said. “I’m stuffing the box with, ‘Mako My Day.’ If it looks like ‘Surface With a Smile’s gonna win, that suggestion box may get damaged after hours. Or burnt, so folks get the message. With ‘Blacktip’ in the mix, anything not shark related is complete shite.”
Island authorities have hired security personnel to safeguard the voting process.
“We’re taking vote integrity quite seriously,” Island Police Constable Rafe Marquette said. “Private guards have been retained to keep a 24-hour watch on the suggestion box to discourage ballot-box shenanigans. Booger and Dermott Bottoms will take eight-hour shifts, with broom handles at the ready.”
Residents and visitors wishing to enter slogan suggestions are encouraged to place them in the suggestion box at the island’s Heritage House. The winner will be announced June 1, to mark the beginning of the hurricane season.
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, May 5, 2024
Temperature: 88
Humidity: 67%
Precipitation: Soon come
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Mood-Ring Dive Gear To Improve Communication On Blacktip Island Boats
A Blacktip Island scuba outfitter has launched a line of thermochromic crystal-infused dive equipment so divers can tell at a glance what mood their fellow divers are in. (photo courtesy of Moodman001)
A Blacktip Island entrepreneur this week announced a new line of scuba diving equipment infused with 1970s-era thermochromic mood-ring technology in an effort to facilitate communication on the small Caribbean island’s dive boats.
“Rocking boats, seasick divers and disappointing dives can lead to tension and misunderstandings on dive charter boats,” Bamboo You president Piers ‘Doc’ Planck said. “People tee off on each other with little or no warning. Dive staffs tend to bear the brunt of it. That’s where heat-sensitive Mood-O-Dive comes in.
“With one glance you can tell what mood a person’s in, then proceed accordingly,” Planck said. “It started with mood rash guards, but then we realized the technology could be applied to so much more—wetsuits, masks, sunscreen, you name it. It’s inspired by the way squid flash colors to communicate. All we’re saying, is give mood a chance.”
Island dive staff applauded the development.
“Lots of times, you can’t tell whether a diving guest is pissed off, queasy or just Zenning out,” Eagle Ray Divers divemaster Marina DeLow said. “That can lead to saying the wrong thing and a major confrontation. With Mood-O-Dive, you can avoid all that. If their gear’s red, they’re pissed; yellow they’re seasick; blue they’re chilling. And we have charts posted on the boat so everyone can tell what each color means.”
Some divers were skeptical.
“As nice as it is to see someone’s mask turn red and know to back off, but it can also lead to misunderstandings,” dive guest Suzy Souccup said. “This morning I thought my husband was happy to see me, but he was just wearing a new blue wetsuit. And it’s a total invasion of privacy when I pee in my wetsuit and it turns bright orange, for all the world to see.”
Others embraced the new technology.
“Truth be told, I’ve never been able to read people’s moods” Chip Eunick said. “With this gear, though, I can tell. I check the tags and logos to make sure it’s real Mood-O-Dive. Then, if the wetsuit turns black or red, I back off; blue or green, I’ll start a conversation. It helps avoid faux pas between dives.”
Others refused to use the gear.
“Nobody’s business what moods I’m in,” diver Joey Pompano said. “And I already know. If somebody can’t tell what mood I’m in before coffee, I can’t help ‘em. I just slap a Mood-O-Dive sticker on my black gear folks leave me the hell alone.”
Planck has plans to broaden his use of the technology.
“If Mood-O-Dive proves as popular as we think it will, we’ll phase into thermochromic benches on the dive boats,” he said. “We’re also experimenting with heat-sensitive deck paint, in case people refuse to use our sunscreen, so dive staff can adapt their dive briefings mid-briefing to better serve the dive guests.”
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
Blacktip Island Weather
Sunday, April 28, 2024
Temperature: 86
Humidity: 69%
Precipitation: Sunny day, sweepin’ the clouds away
Filed under best scuba diving novels, Caribbean, Scuba Diving
The Blacktip Times 