Following yesterday’s night dive, thst little light on my camera housing that shows green to confirm that all is well was in fact annoyingly red!
After some investigation it appeared that the leak detector battery was to blame. A new battery had been fitted, all appears well.
For anyone interested, the Nauticam housings feature a leak detection system that advises you when the camera (and housing) need to be replaced due to salt water ingress!
Furthermore, they also have a vaccum system. When closing the housing, the leak detector is primed and displays blue. Then the vaccum is created using a hand pump on a connector on the outside of the housing, you pump away until the light changes to yellow then green. The vaccum keeps everything together and the case O rings compressed
The same connector features a red pressure release button which is normally covered by a screw on cap. It has been known for some folk to b forget to fit the screw on cap, thus leaving the button exposed during a dive.
If one were to push that button under water then a fine mist of salt water would be sucked in to the housing. This would be disappointing for all concerned!
I hasten to point out that, thus far, neither of us have performed this feat (on this trip anyway!)
On a brighter note, things look good out to sea, less wind than yesterday, not that it was an issue as there are gazillions of dive sites in many locations, protection from the wind is always available.
Fresh meat arrived yesterday, apparently some of them are joining us on our boat! I thought that we should interview them to assess their suitability (mostly their ability to survive my jokes), I was advised against it so am looking forward to seeing how it goes today.
Cameras ready and breakfast completed (spicy sausage today, spicy sausage today, see what I did there?)
Dive #23 Dari Laut
The Casino Wreck!
Lots of rusty ferrous here, mostly girdirs all festoon with life. A few nudi’s and other critters to keep us busy.
During the surface interval there is much discussion between all the photographers on board on all things photographic, so exciting was it that I clean forgot to change my strobe battery. Fortunately, no problem, it lasted on door the second dive.
Dive #14
Olympic
This is a dive on a rubble area (though the rubble is formed of mushroom and other corals).
Highlights included the Coleman Shrimp and psychedelic nudi.
Both excellent dives, we head back to base to dine.
Now it’s back to the camera room for camera shenanigans and review of the mornings catch.
Lunch consisted of B.LT. For Jo and a veg curry for me. After lunch I needed to address a camera issue which I do seem to have conquered. Let’s just say “No other looks like it and no other lasts like it” especially in the land of the Cr2032!
“Buy cheap, buy twice” also applied here.
After reviewing some pictures it was time to head out for the afternoon dive which ends up being “Viverie”
Dive #15
Viverie
A sandy slope in some swell with a non abundance of critters! The best one was found at the end of the dive and once I got to it, Time was short as we were well over the hour and the pressure in my cylinder wasn’t rising!
Before long we head back to the boat. Vis was diminished towards the surface so I signal to Jo that the boat is just there and there’s the anchor line. She signals something back which, once out of the water I learnt meant “yes I know you idiot, where did you think I was going” (my words, Jo’s version was more colourful).
Back on dry land for hot drinks and biscuits before we head out for the night dive for which we have requested ‘Bubbles’, you know, the one with the bubbles of gas venting through the sand, a sign of the magma flow only a few feet under the sand, or at least that’s the way they tell it!
Our request was transmitted to our guide by Jo using telepathy. He had suggested different sites that we simply didn’t fancy so we had to do something!
… And what an awesome dive it was too, so much to see, bubbles is one of our favourite sites here and it delivers every time.
Now at the bar for prinks!
Dinner was tofu sisig, mango salad and fried rice, yum!
Cameras sorted and ready for battle once more.
ZZZzzz…..