Soaring over Ambergris Caye

Every Story has a Beginning

I’ve been to Belize more than a dozen times. Each visit is unique and memorable in it’s own way. My June trip was no exception. On this journey, I stayed nearly a month. It would have been longer, but shortly before I was due to depart I learned a I had a broken finger and required emergency surgery. The details behind that could be the subject of a different, darker tale. Back to this story.

Years ago while visiting, I met a couple of brothers who ran a diving business in San Pedro. Ecologic Divers is widely popular and respected here. Their services are superb and the staff is 100% customer & safety focused. Eric & Kendall Beymer operate the business. Despite my sometimes less than intelligent tourist questioning, they always gave friendly and accurate answers. Even during this trip, a friend wanted a last minute snorkeling adventure. Eric of course made a phone call and it was all set!  When I visited last year, Kendall spoke of moving (expanding) part of the business to Roatan, Honduras. It’s another slice of paradise down the coast (way down the coast). That’s where Kendall was during this trip. Perhaps I’ll see him next time.

Flyboard San Pedro

For several days, I’d been trying to track down Eric. He’s operating a new venture called Flyboard San Pedro. If you’d been to any popular beach, you’ve likely seen it. A person strapped to shoes using high pressure water as “jets” to propel them from the surface of the water. That water is pumped through a hose connected to a jet ski down below. Usually the person running the business looks like someone from a 1960’s James Bond film, flying effortlessly around the water, inviting tourists to try their luck.

After connecting with Eric, I volunteered to help him with social media. Sharing his story with my friends in the United States and around the world is a fun venture. Over perhaps six different occasions, I tried to capture Eric, his assistant Ebony and customers doing their thing. In an ideal world, you would have the athletic customer, and sunny skies to make this work. Eric and Ebony were always good.

The first couple of tries were a bust, Eric was awesome but the weather was mostly cloudy, breezy and gray days. A couple of tropical disturbances were in the area and moving slowly. Not the best backdrop to showcase Flyboard San Pedro. A few days later, the group from Chicago arrived. They were excited, but would they make it out of the water? Part of Flyboarding I learned, was being fearless. This group was fearless on the pier, and were excellent students. So much that they came back for a second day when their time ran out. Dedicated to the challenge, they were. Still, I did exchange information with them. Who knows when I might show up in Chicago.

Between attempts, I spent time talking to Eric. He’s a good guy who wants to see Ambergris Caye prosper. Eric spoke of other things he wants to do on the island, how he tries to give back, and where he sees himself over the horizon. The people here are like that in they’re always positive, always full of hope. Perhaps they should bottle and sell hope. It’s in abundance here. While sitting with him, he saw a small bit of trash in the water. Eric dived off the pier just to retrieve it. Proving what he says, he cares about his community down to the smallest piece of trash.

The last day

The day before I was due to depart San Pedro, I promised I would try to capture the perfect images of Eric doing his thing. The skies were perfect and the seas were calm like a bathtub. Just behind him (about a half mile away) was the Belize Barrier Reef. This was his stage. In all, I probably captured at least 4 hundred images of Flyboard San Pedro in action. People at the nearby Palapa Bar applauded his efforts.

As for me, I’m just an “Accidental Tourist,” watching this “storm trooper” on a waterboard, dancing on a stage of green white & blue. Mainly though, helping my friend like so many others have helped me.

Don’t forget to tell someone you love them. Who knows, you might make their day.

~ Glenn, the “Accidental Tourist”