Day 8

From no dives in three days to three in one. Starting to feel better, the sickly symptoms are under control al last - time to go under! 

We head off a good 2/3 of the journey back towards Male, our first site is called HP Reef. Is it in keeping with other industry based names? I don't know if this is HP Sauce or HP Computers, and the DMs don't either. It's also known as Girifushi Thila, the former part being  the nearest island, the latter that it's a spinnacle or tower. So we headed off in that direction - descending almost 30m very quickly because it was rough up top, but when we bottomed out it was blowing a gale - the current was extremely strong and progress was extremely hard against this. I found that I had precious little energy and was consuming air like crazy. Also, I was coughing a lot, never good underwater, which didn't help much. After a period of trying to maintain our position, the DMs took us over the top of the spinnacle to a the more sheltered side, we were able to anchor and then watch as sharks came around us. 

After Elevenses we went to Tuna Factory, no prizes for guessing what happens there then? Entering just above the harbour, we swam along past the harbour mouth and just loitered around the slopes formed from the huge quantities of unused tuna that is dumped here. We saw loads of Moray eels, Surgeon Fish, Sting Rays, and, as we surfaced, loads of jellyfish. 

Next it was lunchtime, and the crew brought up loads of buffet items to keep us happy, before our final dive into Colleseum, so called because of its overhangs. Plenty to see here, more sharks, turtles and all the usual suspects. A lovely end to my triple dive today. 

By the time I was back it was almost 17:00 so a quick change of garb and then time to head off in the (long) direction of our Sundowner Bar, which we made in 40 minutes in time for a rather disappointing sunset- but no matter the wine was lovely!

Now it was time for Hot Rock once again, tonight we had chicken breast [* 2), lamb and plenty of fries.