Woke up as usual and had breakfast,
before deciding where we wanted to go diving today. Ali was our dive
guide in the morning and the plan for the morning dive was a drift
dive from Jackson Inside to Jackson Outside. Getting there in the
Zodiac was a challenge in itself, as the sea had been ruffed up from
some strong waves coming in from the open water. On our way we
spotted the usual flying fish, skimming across the waves away from
our boat. The boat was near to airborne a few times, before we
reached our diving location and geared up to get in to the water with
waves rocking the boat around. The water felt rather warm when we
went in and there was a large array of different fish, all taking
refuge in the reef from the strong currents and waves out in the
ocean. Ali spotted one stone fish and a few metres next to that
Johanna found another one buried in the sand (Merkel Fish). Also saw
a Clown Fish, which are rather common in this sea. Throughout a lot
of the dive we where surrounded by a large amount of fish, probably
the most fish I have seen per square metre up to date. Schools of
Trumpet, Trigger and the usual small orange fish all around us.
Johanna at one point was just floating in an orange fish mass. The
currents pulled us along the reefs and the further out we got the
less fish there where. Still saw rather a lot, Jon and me seeing some
spotted fish having a territorial dispute with a Lion Fish. Somewhere
in that period I managed to have my deepest dive yet, down to 30,4
metres. Only 0,2 metres more than last time, but still. Ali spotted a
large, camouflaged grouper fish deeper down, it was about the size of
a Napoleon fish. We where the swept across the coral by a stronger
current still and Jon (my buddy) was swept away from the group
towards the open ocean at one point. He got rather worried, as being
out in the sea on your own, 20 metres under water is not a situation
you want to find yourself in. Ali went out and picked him up, so we
proceeded along the reef. We ran out of air rather fast, as we had to
swim against the current in the end a bit, and resurfaced out in the
ocean (away from the corals, so the boat can get us) after about 50
minutes. I thought it was fun going up and down large waves,
sometimes going under them, all with the knowledge that you cant get
pressed down for to long and that you always have air. Getting in to
the boat was rather stressful, as the captain did not want to get
stranded on the reef. Went back, jumping the waves, and after
cleaning our stuff and writing our log books, of for some lunch.
After lunch we went to Baron reef, a
more sheltered and closer reef than Jackson. Jumped over board and
went down. The dive in itself was not as action packed as one in the
morning. I was Svens buddy and our dive guide for that afternoon was
Salah. The water was rather murky, probably from all the waves
hitting the reefs. We saw a Lion Fish, a Trumpet Fish, a rather large
Yellow Spotted Puffer Fish and rather a lot of Blue Spotted
Stingrays. They like the sandy areas. Also saw a crocodile fish
hiding in the sand and a large Trigger Fish. Resurfaced and got back
in to the Zodiac. One of the first times I have also felt cold in the
boat with 22°C air temperature. Probably be a shock getting back to
Germany which currently has about 0°C. Sat down to write our log
books, before waiting for the night dive.
Before dinner we then had our night
dive with Ali. Went down at the back of the group with Sven and no
Jon with us this time. He had enough jellys last week. I only saw tow
colourful ones this time, the rest where somewhere else. Saw an
inactive Lion Fish, some sleeping Clown Fish and a type of squid (I
think it was). Our other diver with us had a few problems with the
buoyancy and at one point shot up to the surface after scarring away
said squid by nearly falling on top of it. Also saw a well
camouflaged scorpion fish between the rocks. On our way back we
switched our lights of like last week, this time we where still
swimming. Every stroke of or flippers caused the plankton behind us
to illuminate in the dark. Even better than last week and that is
what I like about the night dives the most. Proceeded back and had
some dinner after cleaning our stuff.
More pictures at Picasa and a detailed
map of the outer reefs here, with a general map of the reefs here.
Diving depth: 30,4 metres
Diving time: 150 minutes
Speciality: Light show at night, every
movement causing the water around us to glow
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