Day 12

It's an incontrovertible fact of nature (or physics) that a gas will pass upwards through a fluid. So when ones exhaled breath can be seen passing downwards in front of one's mask, there can be three possible explanations thus: 1. Intentionally upside down, 2. Accidentally upside down, 3. In washing machine. 

My thirteenth dive this holiday started so calmly. It was a request from the German couple I was sharing the boat with, just us three plus two DMs. The second Dive Master is just visiting, she's not actually working, so came along for the 'ride.' We had an aborted start when the currents that seemed so placid are upgraded so we need to move out further into the Laccadive Sea, this being the body of water East of our island, which stretches all the way to Indonesia without interruption. Only me and the DM Marc have jumped in by this time, so we clamber back and captain takes us another 10 minutes away from the reef. Up top, it's fairly calm, and we enjoy the warm breeze and sunshine. 

Then we're in again, quickly diving to around 18m and following the side of the reef, it's almost vertical with various small scallopations, like balconies and cornices in the wall. As we follow the moderate current, things start to stir a little and the pace notably increases. Eventually Marc calls a halt and we try to grasp some rock, it's not easy and I have sizeable collection of cuts on both hands as a consequence. I plant a reef hook (personal anchor) into the reef wall, careful not to hit corals, and we chill for five minutes to regain our composure and perhaps spot some passing sharks, sadly not today. After a while we let go and continue barrelling along the reef wall, until I find myself completely unable to maintain depth, being thrown first up by many meters (computer screaming) then back down, as my bubbles appear to be dropping in front of my mask. My ears scream too, as the pressure from the sudden descent is not expected and I haven't done the necessary. Then the whole process happens once again, possible with even more fortitude than last time, driven first upwards then downwards at velocity. Fortunately the much more skilled and experienced DM is not far away and he helps me stabilise, until I'm finally able to anchor myself against the reef once again. 

There's been quite a toll on my air consumption so we head up to 15m for a relatively calmer area on top of this crazy reef to continue the dive. Quite an eventful 40 minutes and one to add to the the experience bank! 

Back on Terra Firma its find the Hubby time, and eventually we are back on our balcony, planning a snorkelling trip down the length of our bungalows back to the island. The tide is extremely low and the wind pushes us dramatically to one side, but it's always entertaining. Next door's octopus is stubborn and won't even show an eye but that is real life. The snorkelling was extremely hard with the wind and currents particularly testy this afternoon. Little did we know!

Later on we do a circuit in anticipation of a Sundowner although once again the sunset is less exciting then we had on other occasions. 

We visit Hot Rock for our last time this holiday, and although the wind is extremely fierce still manage to dine al-fresco, certainly the best way to cook one's own food!

As we're walking home we spot a craft out in the lagoon clearly searching. As I write this I know that at 16:00 a young couple went out snorkelling, just like we did, and have not been seen since. They failed to meet friends for dinner and after their room was entered the evidence is that they did not return from snorkelling. Whilst is not impossible 20 hours later that they may be found alive, it's extremely unlikely. Very sad news.