Dear Team Member,

I hope this message finds you healthy and well. We bring you plenty of uplifting news this week from the world of #teamdd. Let’s get straight to it!

#TEAMDD Member Jill Heinerth LAUNCHES WEEKLY NEWSLETTER

#teamdd member Jill Heinerth has launched a weekly newsletter where she welcomes you to a weekly deep dive into the exploration mindset, and shares unique viewpoints, expedition tales, and curated opportunities for learning and growth.

During the launch, Jill said:

“As an explorer, I am good at dealing with change and uncertainty. I can gracefully shift mental gears and keep myself busy. Sure there were days when I wanted to bury myself in the blankets and cry, but most of the time, I have been able to get out of bed and live a life of purpose. I have not lost my sense of curiosity, and when I think about life’s big picture, I feel pretty fortunate. With this newsletter, I’ll be sharing tidbits of personal wisdom, connections to great thinkers, and exploration stories that will open your mind to new subcultures, issues, and history. It will be an evolving, and eclectic selection of thought-provoking media delivered straight to your inbox each week. I promise to share my authentic self with bumps, bruises, mistakes, and lessons. You can think of it as lifting the veil a bit. I invite you to join me in my world – a world of exploration.”

You can sign up for the newsletter here.

You also have a chance to join Jill in Truk Lagoon in January 2022 where she joins us for the second time - Email us HERE for more information.

#TEAMDD LANDS IN EGYPT

#teamdd members from the USA and Canada are in the air and arriving in Egypt, where we have made a custom deep-diving week along the canyons and blue holes of the coast of Dahab alongside a week on a liveaboard with the best wrecks the red sea has to offer.

Setting up their equipment at TBIs facility right now, the team is really in for a great week of technical diving in the capable hands of our friends Andy and Kerstin at Team Blue Immersion.

MORE GREAT VACCINE NEWS FROM FSM

The community spirit is really shining through in Chuuk these days, where our friend Michael Gerken from the liveaboard Odyssey transported the COVID task force to the island of Uman and vaccinated the entire island.

Michael said on facebook:

“The first vaccine delivery trip was completed yesterday and, by all accounts, it was a huge success. Odyssey and my crew brought 10 members from the Covid task force and Chuuk Public Health to the island of Uman. Uman is an island within the lagoon with a small population. They managed to vaccinate for Covid 680 citizens in 5 days.

The population of Uman is unknown but it is not much more than the number of those vaccinated. The team not only vaccinated for Corona Virus but they administered child vaccines such as Measles. The team was headed by Dr. Bala of India and it was impressive to watch him work. His enthusiasm is contagious.

I didn't take many photos but included a few here. Oddly enough a camera in my hands on dry land is too "heavy". I feel intrusive on people’s lives. I'll try to do better next time.

The next departure date will be in a few day’s time. A new team will visit the villages of Tonoas, otherwise known as Dublon. During the war, Tonoas was the primary base for Japanese operations. Many of the famed wrecks surround this island. The population there is larger thus the trip will likely take longer.

Once we complete the lagoon islands we must do it all over again for dose #2. I'm dug in and ready.”

We can expect the inoculation numbers for Chuuk to drastically increase over the coming weeks. All great signs towards a re-opening on the cards for Chuuk in the future.

That wraps it up for this week. As always we look forward to some great adventures with you in the years to come and as always, don’t forget, if you are feeling lonely, then we are here to chat Dirty.

Best,

Aron Arngrímsson and the DDE Team