WHALE SHARK!!!

Not only did we find a whale shark we swam with it, dived with it then swam again!! I keep thinking it can't get better and it does! Absolutely amazing!!!  After a little while on the first jump, there were loads of people with us, it was like a gaggle. Courtesy seemed to go out of the window with fins everywhere and lots of pushing. At that stage I moved away as it didn't feel right and it felt like the shark couldn't get out of the way although I'm sure it would have done if it really wanted to. 

We went back to the boat, kit on and in for a dive, we saw the whale shark briefly then it was too fast. We continued to dive in quite a surge.  It was like one step forward 9 back. We had to fin like made going forward then relax when it took you back again.  It was funny seeing people bobby around. We also got to see a turtle, ray and a couple of nudibranks! 

Back to the boat then off to snorkel again. We missed it on the first jump after the dive however we were picked up again (by another dohni) then managed to jump in again twice and swim with it.  Feel really privileged. Another amazing day :-))))).

 

What day is it?

You know you are having a fantastic holiday when you lose track of days! I think we have established it is now Thursday!

Yesterday was another great day. We did 3 dives, we had the option of 4 but decided on 3.   The first dive was a small wreck - a boat deliberately sunk for divers. It was a pretty wreck and we were able to see a nudibrank and pipe fish.  We then went across to a pinnacle, wasn't too much to see and the current had also  picked up so was difficult to get around. At some stage we were finning as staying in the sane place!!!  From here we went across to the reef. Most of the reef looked dead here so there was not much to see 😒. 

The second dive we saw more sharks, 3 rays hovering above us and 2 eagle rays swam onto the cleaning station. Also saw a little black/purple flat worm :-).

Last dive of the day for us was more sharks :-), rays and a turtle sitting under a ledge and a beautiful top of reef to look at.

The afternoon and evening consisted of going to an uninhabited island and having a BBQ. Again amazing.  The crews from the boats make sand sculptures. Our crew made a whale shark.  Another boat made whale shark, a hammerhead and a ray....such talent :-).

Today has started with more sharks.  Cuttle fish which Dave finds extremely cute and a large sting ray.  We were also treated to a school of barracudas. I am not sure however if it gets better than the last dive where we sat on the sandy sea floor for an hour watching another manta show!! Absolutely amazing.  We only left because we were very close to our no decompression limit!!  As we ascended and looked around the reef another two gave us a visit....wonderful :-).

We are now on our way to see if we can spot whale sharks so fingers crossed :-).

Sharks, sharks, turtles and mantas.

Well what a day. Up early yesterday (5am) to go out and hang in the blue to see if we can spot any hammerheads. Unfortunately not but a pleasant dive around the reef, not much to see but a dive. 

The next dive..........wow wow wow......white tip reef sharks, including a baby laying under the coral :-)). We saw a turtle and we also saw a baby eagle ray which decided to come and pose for us!  Then the finale just hovering on the reef watching shark after shark after shark pass by. We could have stayed all but due to air, or lack of it, we had to come up.

Next dive we saw more sharks, one of which swam close by across the reef near us. A turtle swam between us and an abundance of sea life everywhere, a lovely dive with a great ascent as fish were with us all the way.

When we thought it couldn't get better we did the night dive.  We were teased first looking for mantas from the back of the boat.  The boat light is put on which attracts the plankton which in turn attracts the mantas.  We saw a Manta about four times which made us really excited for the dive.....usually they scare me and I avoid them.  Once down we all put our torches down which again attracts the mantas and what a show we were given. We were told they would come near and not to move if they did as they wouldn't touch us. And near they came. A huge mouth open and coming towards us, what an experience. They seemed to put on a show! Again air dictated when we came up.  Buzzing isn't the word!!! :-)))

It's now 6.15 am and we are off for our first dive of the day.

Maldives October 2014

So here we are in the beautiful Maldives. I have to say the descent from the aeroplane was absolutely stunning.  The sea looked blue with beautiful little islands scattered around. For me I think it is probably the most wonderful I've ever seen when coming into land. Those of you that know me know I have a fear of flying so don't like to look out of the window during take off a and landing but this had to be seen!!  We travelled for about 13 hours between two planes arriving in Male at about 1.30 in the afternoon.  We were then transported to the boat by a smaller boat. This smaller boat is the one that takes us out on our dives. Once on the main boat, we were shown our cabins and then in the sea for our check dive.  The water was pretty murky but it was good to dive.

 

We then had dinner then it was off to bed. Dave was snoring immediately while I sat up greasing the O rings for the torches and cameras!! Thanks Dave!!! I must have slept well though as apparently there was a thunder storm and I didn't hear it!!

 

This morning we were up at 5.45 for our first dive. Again it was a bit murky however the second dive was clearer and we were able to see more. It was choppy trying to get out and as I was just about to climb up the ladder when I got hit by at least 3 large waves causeing me to hit the ladder rather than climb it.  I ended up with a bashed elbow and shin, I think I have small bruise on my arm and a beauty on my shin - ouch!

On the third dive we saw a ray and two white tip reef sharks :-)))) .  We did however have to abandon the dive as I started to get pins and needles in my arms and was worried it may be something worrying. Once I was on the boat I came out in blotches/rash.........made me even more worried as we saw nothing that could sting me and therefore concerned I may have a skin bend! I had oxygen as a precaution but once the dive guide was back he said there were jellyfish that couldn't be seen, he and others had also been stung :-((((.  Vinegar and antihistamine seemed to have helped so hopefully that's all it was. Gonna pinch Dave's rash vest tomorrow to cover my arms!

A friend has leant me a GoPro so have done a bit of filming with that, need to get the angle better though. There is no view on the back so it is a bit ig guess work what you are filming. I do have a little bit of shark footage :-).

Well that's it for now.

Colette