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.