Island Seekers

In 1976 a large cry was heard in Colombia, South America. I am the second child of Fabio and Dorian Adarve. My father was in the United States working to support his family while my mother stayed in Colombia to help raise our small family. Finally the decision was made to move all of us to the United States, my brother, my mother and my self. We moved to South Florida, know that we could not stand the cold weather. We stayed there until I felt the urge to attend Wheaton College near Chicago, Illinois. The first few flakes that I have ever witnessed were spectacular, but I eventually grew tired of the cold breezes the penetrated the very core of every inch of my body.

I always loved taking pictures, but truthfully felt intimidated with the technical nature of the craft. In essence I documented my life, which included my friends and family. Travel was hard due to the lack of money. I mostly resided in Illinois until the completion of my bachelors. During my education I met my Cuban husband and got married one year before my graduation. Upon my graduation we moved to Mountain City, Tennessee while we waited for our house to be built in Fayetteville, Georgia. It was in Fayetteville that we had our two children and then decided to moved to Cumming, Georgia so that our children could attend a Legionary Catholic Education.

Being great Disney fans we often were able to go on Disney Cruises. On our Western Caribbean Cruise we landed and fell in love with the Mexican island called Cozumel. We decided that the chilly winters of Georgia were still too chilly for our taste and we purchased a condo with the premise that we would eventually retire there. In the meantime we love to come and visit and live among the locals.

During one trip we got a silly idea that it would be fun and adventurous to move to the island for a couple of years to allow our children to solidify their Spanish language and experience another culture than they are accustomed to. Prior to our move I was encouraged by my husband to pursue my love of photography in a school setting. I was able to take several classes at the Art Institute of Photography that has helped me to gain hunger for more knowledge. It is sometimes overwhelming to see how little I know, but I feel that it is never to late to start a new career and I have already started the race. Due to some circumstances I might not be as fast as some but I try to never stand still but to always more forward.

Through positive advancements in our finances we are able to travel more than ever before. I am always trying to grasp the things that I see and how I see it. I am a photographer and I hate to categorize myself in any other fashion but a person that loves the art of photography and here to stay and I hope that one day I will be able to create images that will inspire others to do the same.

Posted in: on Friday, October 1, 2010 at at 8:58 AM 0 comments  

I am excited to say that I am celebrating a new number to my years on this earth with the start of this blog. I am thrilled to embark on some new adventures with my family and start seeking out locations that are unique to many people. We have been blessed with the ability to come and purchase property here in the beautiful country of Mexico and have access to travel by means of a small yacht. My family (husband, son and daughter) are getting things ready to embark on this new adventure.

The following is the itinerary that we have planned: Banco Chinchorro, Punta Herrero, and Bahía del Espíritu Santo.

I cannot wait to share this journey with you...

Posted in: Mexican Island Hopping on Friday, May 7, 2010 at at 10:59 AM 0 comments  

Located in the southern regions of the Gulf of Mexico, 116 km off the northern coast of Mexico's Yucután Peninsula, Arrecife Alacrán is the largest of a group of emergent reefs that lie on the outer edge of the Campeche Bank and form a loose arc of reefs and cays that parallel the northern and western coasts of the Yucután Peninsula.

The western (leeward) rim contains five vegetated cays: Isla Chica, Isla Desterrada, Isla Desertora, Isla Pérez, and Isla Pájaros; there are also areas of shifting sand bank that may become alternatively exposed and removed with wind and wave action as well as being modified by storm activity. The islands are all low-lying and vegetated, rising to no more than 3 m above sea level. Largest of the islands is the elongate Isla Pérez (visible at the far-left in the above image, on the leeward shelf).

The islands of Arrecife Alacrán are regionally important seabird nesting sites as well providing stopover to species migrating across the Gulf of Mexico. Nesting species include Masked Booby, Red-footed Booby, Brown Booby, Laughing Gull, Brown Noddy, Magnificent Frigatebird, Royal Tern, Sandwich Tern and Sooty Tern.

Posted in: Alacranes on at at 10:56 AM 0 comments  

I love taking pictures. I love seeing the beauty in things and capturing them forever. This hobby for me is finally taking shape. I am learning daily the skills needed to one day become a professional photographer. I hope to look back on these images and see how I have grown as a photographer - and a person.

I, Sujey Valdes, am fulfilling my life-long passion of photography as I am currently enrolled in a prestigious commercial photography school. As a result of my passion for photography and my love of the ocean, I have decided to share this gift with the world. My family and my love for diving and traveling are taking us to some of the most incredible islands, that for the most part are not well known.

Welcome to our life; welcome to an amazing world created by an amazing Creator in love with His creation. Welcome to ISLAND SEEKERS - the most informative source of an unfamiliar exotic and amazing world.

Posted in: Welcome on at at 10:50 AM 0 comments