April 8

Today, we both were awake when the loudspeaker blared. Jeff had been awake since before 04! I didn't awaken until 0450 – five minutes prior to the call of prayer, or call to eat before sunrise. We both got about and left at 0650 to get to the boat. Walking there, we were following others going there as well. When we arrived, we were greeted by the two kids from Hungary! The one is a connector type and 18 years old, he did all the talking. It was great to see them. They are in a group of five from Hungary and they leave today. They just wanted to say goodbye to us!! It was a nice surprise!

Anyway, we boarded the boat and found our crates of equipment. Jeff and I are on opposite sides this time. We prepped our tanks and gear, as the boat set off. There are the two tall German guys that have been going out everyday, and the lady from the other SCUBA company (whose boat we all are on) with only one repeat lady with her. Everyone else aboard new: most being from India, but three of oriental descent. There are also at least two taking the beginning PADI course and some who are just snorkeling. 

Now we go in search of that elusive Whale Shark. We started out with a snorkel, seeing a smaller manta ray. All of us were swimming all around the ray trying to keep up. Many were trying to get their photo of it. I decided to just hang back and watch from afar. I was just enjoying the play of the light streaming through the water and pretty sure I saw “glitter” – maybe bioluminescence??  Anyway, the ray circled back around and passed right in front of me. Jeff was one swimming all around with it. When he saw me, we decided to head back to the boat. I want to conserve my energy for the Whale Shark we might need to chase to see.

After everyone onboard, we were briefed on the chosen site, Lux Beyru, for our first dive. As the boat drove to the site, we ate peanuts, an apple, and cake. We arrived, and all divers in. The site is along a wall of coral. It is not completely straight up but it is impressive in its own right. So much variety in the coral, it seemed to just keep going, and going! Quite a ways off, a White-tipped Shark was swimming away from us, but not before we saw it. We saw some fish all throughout the coral, coming and hiding, as if playing peek-a-boo. Then toward the end of the dive, we saw a Green Turtle with a Bat Fish tagging along. We followed it into the shallow 10m (30feet) region of the big blue expanse of the ocean. Finally, our dive master called it. We did our safety stop and surfaced. Stats were – Paula 25.9m (85 feet) for 52min; and Jeff 24.8m (81 feet) for 52min duration. It was a good dive to start the day.

Back on board the boat, we are driven further, still searching for our Whale Shark sighting. We split a bowl of instant noodles. It was about 1130 and lunchtime. Most everyone else is eating noodles as well. As we approach a few other boats we are told to SCUBA up and jump in. We hit the jackpot!   Our first ever Whale Shark!!  It was an incredible experience. As we were coming toward it, it was coming toward us! Beautiful! I actually had to pull up my fins as it was that quickly in front of me. It just seemed to not be exerting any effort and it was gone. I did notice, unfortunately, it's back fin has been severed half off! 😮☹️  Our divemaster tried to keep up with the Whale Shark, so we all did as well. But I was puttering out, Jeff grabbed my hand. The guide who took me up the other day, grabbed my other hand. I felt like an invalid, but this way I got to see the Whale Shark longer than I thought I'd be able to, and I appreciated it. But there were others not keeping up either, so we all had our little group – five of us – with the guide who helped me. We kept going and just explored the reef. We saw stuff we hadn't seen before – one being a Cushion Starfish!! We wished we had an underwater camera. We also saw more of the Table Coral, such big “fields” of it! Our guide called for the end of the dive. We surfaced after our safety stop, and had to wait quite awhile for the boat to see us and then come get us. Stats:  Paula was 19.5m (64 feet) for 41min; Jeffrey 20.2m (66 feet) for 41min. What an absolutely cool dive!!!!!

We boarded and just took it all in – we saw a Whale Shark! How awesome and blessed we felt!! Our dive master told us the name of the dive site was Sun Island Barrel?  Now the boat drives the long, one hour plus ride back to Dhangethi Island, passing by many others. We did see some dolphins again (as we had two days ago, I forgot to mention this). Also we have seen sea planes “island hopping.”  It is cool to see them landing and taking off. We ate some chips, and the other apple. Great day and we signed up for tomorrow, as I feel up to it.👍

At 1530, we are back in the harbor. The boat anchored up and we all disembark. We went back to our place and showered. We went out to Blue Moon Cafe and ordered a pizza, coleslaw salad, and split a mango milkshake for a late lunch. Finished, we head back to our place. I blogged until sunset, Jeff planned. We took in sunset, another great one.

Back to our place for the night now, I finished the blog and we ate some Nutella on bread rolls. Plan for bed by 2100.