This is it, the penultimate dive day 50+ dives completed, up to 8 more to go.
It’s 05.00 here at the moment, I didn’t sleep so well despite my apparently ‘good’ start!
Not a breath of wind, tiny waves lapping along the shoreline and the local cockerels really quite going for it.
I think the plan for this morning is to head across to Kirbys Rock though anything can (and usually does) change.
We are joined in the boat by Nina and Anne (just in from Malaysia) and Tony who was with us yesterday.
We were talking about our next trip out here in February, apparently its the depth of their ‘winter’ time here and although it’s nice and warm top side, the sea temperature plummits to a chilling 25 or 26 degrees 🥶🥶🥶 so some time between now and then I feel investment in 3mm wetsuits might be wise!
In other news there is talk of a Typhoon coming, hopefully it’ll give us a suitably wide birth….
First dive is indeed Kirbys Rock, though we are moored in a slightly different position which makes the dive more interesting as we are approaching the rock from a different direction.
All the usual suspects are there. Jo and I took a tour around the outer and deeper pinnacle. On the way back we see a particularly large octopus, which was novel.
On the way back to the boat we see a juvenile rock grouper which was quite a fun thing.
Back on board for coffee and oreos whilst we make our way over to the next site Minilog.
At Minilog we see a variety of new nudi’s including another mahoosive purple fella which was about 5″ long. I also spotted another large octopus which I persuaded to come out of its hiding place. A trick that I was able to repeat once more whilst Jo was watching – and I thought Octopi were supposed to be smart!
A group of three pink and yellow nudi’s were posing so the photo opportunity was taken!
Back to shore for lunch which today features B.L.T. And Pancit Canton with Chicken, washed down with a Royale and Coke Zero.
Just sitting on our balcony now soaking up a few rays before heading out to sea again getting for theft 3.00pm dive, phew its warm🌞
For the afternoon dive we hard across to Apolls Point which is a lovely scenic reef dive with plenty of life – this time we dive the west side of the site only to discover new nudis (well, unseen by me) as well as a few exotic ones that we had seen elsewhere – a really nice dive.
Back on board we head back to base for the break before the night dive so we had a quick bob in the pool before heading out to dive ‘Bubbles’ but when we get there – there is sufficient current to warrant moving to a different site so we had off to Siam Sim where we do get in for some Mimic Octopus and Wonderpuss action – not to mention my particular interaction with a sea urchin – oh wow – did that hurt.
“When you’re down in the sand and an Eel bites your hand – that’s a Moray,
When you’re down in the sea ad a Eel bites your knee – that’s a Moray,
Unless its a vicious spiny and extremely stingy sea urchin…….”
Recovery is made – though the wound is still highly visible!
Back to base for drinks at the bar with Nina before enjoying a sumptuous feast of Chicken Adobo, Fried Rice, Tempura Prawns and Chop Suey – all super yum.
We then head back to our room for picture processing, blog writing and falling asleep – at which I appear to excel!