DIVE - DIVE - DIVE

We had (two) boat dives today for four more dives; we had two dives ocean side and then back into the lagoon on the last two. My camera batteries were used up halfway thru the second dive so I missed the shots of a good size jelly fish and several others fish. We went on another wreck dive which was deep but had great visibility with lots of corals and fish.

More dives with Ben

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More Fun

Last night the kids played bingo but did not win anything. Sarah enjoys reefing when ever there is a low tide. Today, first we went windboard sailing. We only had a small advanced level board so it was really hard to learn on. A couple of short rides were accomplished by Ben but I have a ton of photos of him splashing off the sides of the board. Before he was exhausted we rode the bikes back to town for supper and then back to the far side of the island for the surfing. I had arranged with Joe to bring Ben a surfboard and give him some pointers. Joe did that and off they went to challenge the waves. They have to go out over 400 yards to catch the waves; which is a tough swim even on a surf board. Once out there you had to cross the waves and then paddle madly to jump on the one you choose to attempt to ride. Ben made some good attempts before heading back to us, as Sarah and I had laughed at his misadventures, taking lots of photos. (Due to the distance the photo were not great but sure are fun to laugh at.) He looked like one tired puppy coming up the stairway; he even had a pink belly from rubbing on the board and complained about the wax on the board pulling out his chest hair. Tomorrow we have two boat dives planned. The fun just never stops here on Kwaj!

I took Ben on a night dive last night. He got to see his first turtle (underwater) as well as some of our night time critters. Will try and post some pictures later but have failed the last times that I attempted. Note: their boat came in yesterday with five fish, good size for back at home but small for out here.

Visitors

My son, Ben and daughter-in-law Sarah arrived last Thursday to spend a few days here in Kwaj. In the first two days we got in five dives but I have to return to work for a few days so he and Sarah are on their own, in my tropical island paradise. Sarah can’t dive with her knee now; she waited in the boat on a couple of dives. It was nice weather when we went under and came up but in between the rain and waves were pretty strong. She was wet, cold and sea sick when we came up. She says thanks but no thanks on waiting on the boat while we dive now. Oh, Ben did not bring scuba gear so notice the nice PINK BCD he has on, thanks to friends here. Sarah is in love with the reefing and already has pounds of beach glass to send home.

Sharks!

Missed the closer shots of the sharks

Look close for the stonefish (scorpion fish really)

Can you see the transparent shrimp?

Mr. Big does not like for you to get too close.

Great day in my books! Logged 3 more dives today, a shore dive and boat dives in the Lagoon and the Ocean. Today was my first time to try out my new underwater camera. We were snorkeling in the Ocean, on the edge of the reef, by that dark, deep blue unknown, for a surface interval. Along comes a BIG gray shark, circled around and then came back towards us and headed up to check us out. My, what big eyes they have! You know it is pretty easy to swim backwards, toward the boat without splashing or moving much at all.

WOW!

What a great day! I wish all my days off could be this great. Checked out some new locations for shore dives but backed out due to strong currents there. The first dive of the afternoon we went out far from shore watching the bottom drop. We leveled off at 87’ watching the bottom, which appeared to be around 130’. Saw some enormous elephant sponges, snuck up on three garden eels sticking several inches out of the sand, swaying in the current like cobras being charmed. They are secretive and will usually duck into the sand before anyone can see them. Stopped several minutes to watch a giant Magnificent anemone which has a brilliant blue-purple color foot and of course it was being guarded by several (15!—all sizes) Clown fish. I still have not developed gills, so had to go back to the surface after just a little over an hour in this Micronesia undersea world.

After an hour topside I got to return to spend another hour moving only a short distance from the last dive. Not really expecting a spectacular dive then POW! At the top of a coral head sitting at 60’ was the biggest turtle that I have seen here. Thousands of tiny fish of a dozen different species all circled around the complete coral head and the area around it. Some were even cleaning the turtle. We waited and just watched until he left to return to the surface for air. On the Mertin anemone, in addition to Clown fish were small tiny transparent shrimp. Around the corner from it was an Adhesive anemone, tucked inside a hole in the coral and being guarded by a big Clown fish. Tough to do but moved on, stopping by a giant clam (18” long) for a moment and then to another coral head. It also was covered with hundreds of tiny fish and suddenly there in the center of the coral head, a large green Moray Eel came out about 3’ to watch us. For a second it appeared that he was going to come all the way out but stopped; watched us with his mouth opening and closing like they do. We found a large clam partially buried in the sand, the large shells were moving around. A pipe fish that was very pregnant popped out, along with a great assortment of other fish! What happens to the time underwater?! Surface time again.

To The Pools!

The pools (coral areas removed for use as building material on the island) offer snorkeling during low tide, in that area in between the shore line and the ocean reef line. Check out the aerial maps to see them. You never know what you will see but it always a good work out against the tides. Jumping from pool to pool be sure to wear gloves and watch where you grab as there is usually a sea urchin hiding in all those hand holds.

Independence Day Celebration

A real community event here, everyone came out to Emon Beach for the venders, games, drinks and of course the fireworks. A barge was anchored out in the Lagoon in front of everyone, who sat on the beach and watched a really great show. Of course the weather was perfect, the fireworks reflecting off the ocean was very impressive.

Last night on a night dive I saw the largest cone shell ever! It was crawling along pushing it’s proboscis at least 3” in front of it, waiting to harpoon it’s next victim.