Another Maganda (beautiful) morning here in diving paradise, marred only by the fact that it is our penultimate diving day 😔
The sun is out, it’s already scorchio and the sea is so flat that the occasional white fluffy clouds are reflected in the mirror like surface.
Egg on toast for breakfast with fresh fruit juice cocktail of mango and banana (which explains why there are no bananas on offer, we usually liberate a couple for morning boat snacks so today we shall rely on the Oreo to do that!)
No idea where we are going today though I am confident that wherever it is, it will be great. Let’s sea (see what I did there?)
Dive #53 Dari Laut
What a most excellent dive. There is a new mooring right next to the wreck so as soon as we jumped, there it was. I headed down to the deepest part of the wreck site where a lot of nudi action is to be found.
There are bat fish that swim around that section and before long (thanks Nani) there was a perfect specimin presenting itself to be photographed.
After that, a colourful flatworm and other nudies as well as a colourful frog fish all gagging to be photographed.
An Anilao Sea Dragon was also spotted. It all sounds very grand but I think the use of the term “dragon” is enthusiastic to say the very least. I did get a picture though I’m sure Jo’s will be better, she was pleased that she got the eye in focus. Me “It had an eye?!?”
We’ve moved over to Minilog for the surface interval where coffee and Oreos have been consumed.
Now, we still have 30 minutes to wait until the next dive…..
Dive #54 Minilog
Lots to see here, that big pink nudi with yellow gills, albeit not so well positioned this time. The orange “criss cross” nudi, a pair of the darker orange and black “criss cross” nudi’s. Some shrimp and other stuff.
Back at base it’s time for lunch. Whilst Jo sticks with tradition, I went for a bit of a treat abs had the salt and pepper prawns and they were absolutely lovely, so good, heads, tails and all, served on a bed of onion and chilli with boiled rice on the side, I totally recommend this combo. I made the whole lot disappear, yum.
Dive #56 Apols Point
Dived this slightly differently this time by heading east first and then turning west to circle the point before heading back up.
Some nudi and crab action to keep us busy and then we are at the sea fan with the pygmy seahorse.
Nani and Jo had just started working on this picture, getting everything set right before taking the money shot when a guide from another boat turns up and asks our guide to point out said creature, at which point everything falls apart and the seahorse goes and hides.
Jo showed me some new signs, most of which I’d not seen underwater before. Back at the surface she reveals that she was that vexed that she could not pee underwater, something which we are both accomplished at as we both drink at least half litre of water just before the dive.
Does anyone know I.P. Freely?
After a break for coffee and Oreos (and off gassing) we head out for the night dive. We were heading towards secret bay then this happened:
Dive #56 Red Rock Night Dive
After failing to do this dive several times we finally get to do it and at night, awesome.
Back on dry land Jo celebrates this with a banana margareta, I stick with the ice cold Red Horse.
Dinner is a sticky affair involving ribs, fries and coleslaw and then it’s camera prep before we finally pass out!