Divemaster's Corner
by Albert

Welcome Divers!

It's been a while since my last report, but I'll try to sum up all the excitement of the last few weeks.

Our guests have been enjoying the reefs and all the creatures that live on them. More than ever I'm seeing guests with cameras of all kinds snapping away during dives, and having slide shows each night after supper. I honestly don't think there is anything else that a diver could possibly enjoy more than capturing nature at its best on film and later showing off their photographic talent to very appreciative fans!

Besides the stingrays, eagle rays, horse-eye jacks, sea horses, and colorful reef fishes, the last few weeks have provided us with multiple opportunities to swim with whale sharks. Three weeks ago our guests were ecstatic to have been in the water five times with the whale sharks! But that was not to be the end of the experience. The following day Captain Willie was able to spot a boil of bonitos, but was too late reaching it. The whale shark sounded before the group could see it. However, Willie, not wanting to give up --- getting "close" can significantly increase the pressure!---sailed on. Not long after the "close" encounter, he spotted a whole pod of pilot whales, which were moving slowly enough to allow our guests to don snorkel gear and get a good look at them. Many pictures were taken at that time, as guests were unsure of they'd get to see something on a grander scale that day.

Once the pilot whales had moved on, everyone climbed aboard our boat, Sea Sprite, and headed for their next dive site. Everyone enjoyed that dive as much as the first. A fairly large school of blue tangs were patrolling the reef and stuck around for almost the entire time we were there. But eventually they left and so did we, driven back to the Lodge by rumbling stomachs.

On the way back, Captain Willie spotted something large in the distance and we all decided we should check it out. That was a great idea because it turned out to be several sperm whales on their annual migration. These creatures were very large and it was impossible to look at them and not appreciate their grace and recognize their majesty. Some of us were keen on slipping into the water (near the boat) for a few pictures, but they were swimming way too fast to allow it. We did, however, see other sperm whales making the journey on the following three days and each time it was thrilling

The only thing that was missing was YOU, unless you are one of the guests present during these encounters! Check out our photo gallery for some stunning underwater pictures. We have posted some new ones from the past few weeks.

Happy diving!
Albert