Here we are at the start of our penultimate dive day. Another flat calm sea with little or no wind, just the way we like it.
This will also be our last night dive day as tomorrow we bring the whole dive program forward so that we can be out of the water in time for our no-fly time to expire, two dives back to back at 8.00 and another two at 14.00, that usually does it.
.. And because I know you want to know, breakfast was omlete on toast for Jo whilst I went with two eggs sunny side up with spicy sausage, all washed down with fresh watermelon juice.
A light shower of rain just passed through and Jo’s wetsuit that she hung out overnight is, well, wet!
Wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, What a great mornings diving!
Dive #53
Daryl Laut
Once again, the casino wreck has much to entertain us with. A painted frog fish at the start of the dive, some very nicely positioned nudi’s and a dragon shrimp, 30.3m, 70 minutes, such fun!
I even found the painted frog fish again towards the end of the dive, or did it find me?
After a short island hop we spend the surface interval at Sombrero which is the location for the second dive.
Dive #54
Sombrero (Batok)
This is a reef which is some way off the nearby island, the visibility, clarity and colours are mind blowing.
So much to see, so many fish, schooling red toothed trigger fish, schooling snapper, feather stars of all colours and what seems like mile after mile of pristine colourful reef. Simply awesome!
All too soon we’re back on the surface and heading back to base.
Lunch today is B.L.T. for Jo and Pancit Canton with vegetables for me, yum!
… and now we have to order dinner…
Scorchio again today so we take a quick wallow in the pool before the mornings crop of photos is checked then before long it’s time to get back under the sea.
Dive #55
Viverie.
This starts with a flat white sand seabed before a slope descends down into the abyss. The highlights of this dive being a microscopic sea pen shrimp and a hairy shrimp, awesome tiny stuff!
Back on board we return to base for a swift hot drink and then out again for the dusk/night dive
Dive #56
Secret Bay
There were a couple of cold spots on the last dive so I finally succumb and put on my wetsuit!!
We saw all the regular stuff but the highlights of this dive were most probably the two large frog fish on a coral outcrop at about 22.5m. One was regular plain sandy orange in colour but the other was a monster painted frog fish in amazing colours, never seen anything like it. Oh, and the pair of ornate ghost pipe fish and Jo saw another hairy shrimp
After a short boat ride back around the corner we have a quick rinse, prinks and then our dinner of deep fried shrimp and Teriyaki chicken with rice. Only one evening meal after this one. We must choose wisely!
Side note: All the time I have been eating Kiri Na Tanigui thinking that it was Tuna Ceviche – it turns out that the fish is actually Blue Marlin!!!
Additional note: Online checkin for our flights home is now available, how very disappointing….