April 7

Yesterday, we awoke before the alarm, again, due to the loudspeaker calling of prayer. We got up and around. We saw the host of our booking place, and okayed a room cleaning today as we are going out diving again. Jeff grabbed some snacks (little processed cakes) from the kitchen that the host keeps in stock. Since we have to be at the by 0700, we don't have time for breakfast before we go.

We arrived with the other divers streaming in – all looking like we could use coffee. Again we are a large group. I think we are two dive companies combined. Because we are on an 'Endheri Dive' boat, and there two definite dive groups each with a dive master. The company we are with has a boat parked right beside this boat, but we have not been on it. Is this for cost savings? Does our companies' boat run?? Questions??? Anyway, after the commotion of everyone finding and checking their stuff, we head out. We ride out a long ways on the ocean, at least an hour's ride. Today, they want us to see Whale Sharks! And, oh boy, we want see them also!!! It is known in Maldives to see these, the largest fish – they are not mammals – in the world. I am excited, and a teensy bit fearful, just because of their huge size.

Finally, we arrived at the general area where they are known. They are searching and searching, but no luck in spotting any Whale Sharks. So plan “B”, we did a site dive, called Bodu Finolhu Thila. The dive was somewhat decreased visiblity, as compared to yesterday. We all grouped up and watched a common area of congregating of sharks. There were at least three different kinds: White-tipped; Black-tipped and Silver. They were just happily swimming over a sandy bottom area, and staying there! We all were at the edge of a large coral site, and staying here!! I was okay with this. I know with one flip of their tail they could be upon us… but well, I'm not going there. We moved on and just came along and up the big coral reef we were at. Toward the end we did see a Hawksbill Turtle . I always enjoy seeing these. There was a “field” of lattice table coral, so many! Of course, there were other fish also, but not like yesterday's second dive. We ended the dive with stats: me- 25.3m (83 feet) max depth, and duration 46 minutes (I could have gone longer, ended with 75 bar air); Jeff – 26.1m (85 feet), and 46 min long also (he had 50 bar left, which is what you should shoot for to get your money's worth).

On board the boat, we ate most of our cake snacks (saving one each to have after next dive), waiting for everyone else to come up. The boat moved on in search of the elusive Whale Shark!! We finally arrived, at a collection of boats, this usually means a sighting!?! When we arrived it was urgent to hit the water, but they had prepared us for this. Once in you went down and followed the dive master, quickly. There was a current and it was a hard pace (our rental fins are small compared to everyone elses, and well, size does matter here). We seemed to not be going forward as much as we should, and I puttered out, got hot felt like I could pass out! That is no good!! I tried to get Jeff, but he seemed to have kicked on his turbo. Right beside me was a dive guide, I signaled to him that I was needing up. He understood and we went up, did a safety stop, and boarded the boat. For shame I was the first one back… but at least I was back. I ate my last snack and had water. I need real food to do these multiple dives next time. So my stats: again 25.3m (83 feet) as depth, for 12 minutes, only! Jeff finished the dive. He said, he was looking for me, but two people related to him they saw me go up with the guide. Anyway, no one ever found, or saw the Whale Shark. Jeff said they had a shark sighting, but not the shark, a Whale Shark. Jeff's stats were 27.2 m (89 feet) max depth for 33 minutes.

We moved on. About two thirds of the divers on the boat went for a third dive, the rest snorkeling including Jeff, but not me. I just hung out on the boat trying to stay protected and out of the sun. There were three staff on board – on was the driver of the boat. They were all on their phones, naturally. The snorkelers started coming back on board after 15 minutes or so. Jeff stayed out around 25 minutes. He said he was able to keep up and see the divers for a while. Then he saw another Hawksbill Turtle and stayed above it, until it spotted him and swam off. Lastly, the divers trickled back on board – no luck sighting the Whale Shark. Now, the long drive back to Dhangethi Island. We told the staff we would not be going out tomorrow. I needed another day to recoup.

Back on land at 1530, we immediately went to eat at Blue Moon. We each had a juice: me -mango; Jeff – lime. I ordered a Chef's salad, and Tuna & Noodles; Jeff – Beef Kothu. We each finished our main, having a bite or two each of the salad. We were full. We told them we wanted a take away for the rest of the salad, but they misunderstood and it was dumped. Humph! It was good, too!! Anyway, left disappointed – the salad was going to be supper.

Arriving at our place we showered and then napped, well I slept quick and deep for 30 minutes. Then went out for sunset and to a store for bread. We found buns and had a PB bun each for supper; watched some You tube; then bed by 2130. I was so tired I fell asleep during the hour long nightly call to prayer. That my friends is hard to do – it is so loud! Especially since, it is the next building over that the Mosque and loudspeaker is located.

Today, I was able to fall back asleep after call to prayer at 0455. Finally, up and about around 0715. I had my coffee, Jeff his hot chocolate; then breakfast at 0900. We each had the Disk Masthuni. It's a new favorite of ours!! After we finished we attempted to get a cash withdrawal from the only ATM, but it was, 'Temporary Out Of Service.' Thankfully the Islands use US currency and we still have some!

Back at our place we just hung out today – a chill day. Lunch was rest of buns with PB and some new tortilla chips we had bought. Watched some You tube and then I connected with my mom. We went to supper at Monalaz Beach Cafe, having a Volhomas Kothu and a Srilankan Kothu (same but had chicken instead of the smoked tuna). Then we split a nutella milkshake. Next, we went to the dive shop and okayed dives for tomorrow. Now plan to watch our church service and then bed.