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Dive Day #16

It’s another flat day here in Anilao. We arrive early for breakfast (!!!) and already, our gear is on our boat and our captain has arrived.

No sign of, or news from our buddies Darrell and Dianne. We last heard that they were being held hostage at the chamber until DAN paid them $14,000 AUS.

It just goes to show that you never know how good your insurance is until you really need it!

Just three diving days left, with 12 dives. Having now visited coconut point we really dont mind where we go (though I do fancy a return to Red Rock if it is an option).

Dive #55 Layag Layag

Another bimble at the back of Kirbys rock, lots to see, for us, mostly nudi’s, all very good.

Back on board we make our way over to Bethlehem for the second dive, the usual coffee, biscuits and banana are consumed!

Dive #56 Bethlehem (from the other side)

A little current at the start though this all but vanishes as the dive goes on. Nudi after nudi on this otherwise flat, rubble filled area between two islands.

Jo managed to spend 30 minutes in the same spot  as critter after critter were bought to her for their portrait shots!

Back on board we head back across from the island to enjoy a light lunch of B.L.T. And Pancit Canton with chicken.

Darrell and Dianne meet us for lunch where they spill the beans on the chamber adventure as well as how ineffective D. A. N. were.

This is in stark contrast to the support provided by our resort with transportation and staff that went to the chamber and acted as the go between between Dianne, the hospital, doctors and the insurance companies. Dave Santos and his team delivering exceptional customer service as always.

After lunch, a short rest before we head out again.

Dive #57 RedRock

One of my favourites, lots of nudi action including some nudi-canoodling!

Another lovely dive on this pinnacle and surrounding area.

Back on the surface for light refreshments before we descend for the last dive of the day.

Dive #58 Mainit School.

This is a lovely bimble through coral outcrops down to a sandy sea bed at about 21m, again, much nudi action. In  case this is not obvious, this pleases us photographer types and allows us to return with an array of colourful images. This time round, the guides seem to have taken on a challenge to find the smallest stuff out there. It will not be obvious from the photos but some of these things will be 1 to 3 mm long. Thank goodness for macro lenses!

Back to base where we spend a little bar time before tonight’s dinner of deep fried Lumpia, beef curry and rice, yum!

Dive Day #15

Looks like it rained last night. Very high humidity, clocking in at 86%.

Very calm here today, unlike myself, who is feeling a little grumpy that my omelette was under cooked. Richard decided that it couldn’t be left, so he ate it after he had eaten his breakfast. Turns out that his uncomfortable tummy is my fault! Hmmm…

Here are a few pictures of our trip out to Caban Cove…

Dive #51

Kavan Cove

A very relaxed dive. On a coral slope.

Some nicely positioned Cinderella nudis, swarms of red tooth trigger fish, lots of small stuff to take pictures of.

Lots of fire urchins in one place. Probably fifty urchins huddled together between the coral.

The surface interval was spent in the next cove along from Caban Cove.

Dive #52

Tres Cuevas

We dived this many years ago, not for ages.

Another coral slope.

I spent quite a while with a peacock mantis shrimp, a coral infested with Christmas tree worms and lots of interesting small stuff.

Back at the resort, I went to the office to find out about Dianne, it looks like she is going back in the chamber for another two and a half hours because she is not quite right yet.

Lunch was a BLT and fries for me and spaghetti carbonara for Richard.

Across to the island for the afternoon.

Dive #53

Coconut Point

The last one on Richard’s “I want to dive list”.

A sandy slope with an oasis of black coral, which is actually white, small outcrops and lots of barrel sponge.

Very relaxed dive, no waves or current.

During our surface interval, we relocated to east on Apol’s Point. This is the furthest east we have dived on this island.

Dive #54

Apol’s Point East

Coral outcrops in sand on a gentle slope.

Again there were so many red toothed trigger fish. It was like a wall of fish. Unbelievable!

If I had my head in an outcrop taking a picture, I would look up and be surrounded by fish. So cool!

We saw all sorts of things. A group of four cream nudis together, shrimps, lots of other stuff.

Back at the resort, we see a message from Darryl who has been at the hospital all day, saying that Dianne is fixed and should be discharged today, but it could be late. Good news!

Spent some time chatting to other guests and bar then we had dinner with Brendan and Vicky. We had BBQ pork on skewers, fried rice and lumpia.

Photo stuff after dinner, then sleep.

Dive Day #14

Another flat and sunny day (so far at least).

Today’s breakfast is based around hot ham slices and hash browns so I settle for a couple of fried eggs, hot ham and a cream cheese sandwich, another classic combo!

D&D are sitting today out as Dianne got herself a skin bend yesterday (for no apparent reason) and has been on O2 therapy every since.

So today’s boat will consist of Jo, Myself, Brendan and Vicki.

The only dive that I’m hoping to do now is Coconut Point, hopefully we can get there in the next 5 days.

Dive #47 Kirbys Rock

Very few of us on this dive, Eric pointed out some very nice small stuff.

Though I did not see it myself Jo had an incident on the wall where she was first passed by a camera executing an unplanned solo decent which was hotly persued by a diver (presumably the owner of the camera) at very close quarters.

Once recovered, the diver (now with camera in hand) was making what seemed an equally uncontrolled ascent directly through Jo’s fins.

Back on the surface it’s coffee and Oreos as we make our way to the next site.

Dive #48 Olympic

A lovely relaxing bimble over this site, again Eric found some micro nudy action and a fertive duck  shrimp at the end.

Back to base for BLT and Chicken Curry where we are informed that Dianne is now spending quality time in the local chamber to deal with her skin bend.

Out again for the afternoon dives.

Dive #49 Koala

Dived this from a different perspective so it’s like an all new dive site.

Eric is straight in with the  harlequin shrimp and then the yellow painted frog fish and topping it all of with the smallest of all possible nudi’s though Jo managed a most excellent shot.

Our surface interval is spent making our way back to secret bay though our captain had forgotten the hot water for coffees etc so we dropped in at the dive centre on our way past for supplies.

Dive #50 Secret Bay

A nice relaxing muck dive revealing several micro critters!

Back on land we hear that Dianne is out of the chamber and will spend the night at the hospital pending a review in the morning. Ernie (the driver) will take Darrell to see her this morning and hopefully break her out!

Dive Day #13

Looks like another lovely day.

Every morning here, I have had an omelette, today I thought I would change it up a bit, what with it being bacon day.

Here you get two types of fried eggs, snotty whites, that Richard likes, or rubber eggs, that I would take every time over snotty whites. Just the thought…. Yuk!

Dive #43

Aguhuta

Love this dive. Corals on a slope.

No current.

The water was filled with red toothed triggerfish. Amazing.

All of my pictures on this dive were taken using super macro. That is a first.

We saw thousands and thousands of trigger fish, many teeny tiny nudis, and big pink and yellow nudis.

The surface interval was taken at Bethlehem.

Dive #44

Bethlehem

No current.

Slope with coral then sand and a rubble plateau at 20 meters.

We saw various nudis including the teeny tiny psychedelic slug.

Back at the resort, it was dinner time. BLT and fries for me and raw fish with ginger and chilli for Richard.

Dive #45

Apol’s Point

Enjoy this dive. A bit of current but we kept out of it.

We saw pink pygmy seahorse and a very special nudis which we need to look up to find a name.

A lot of current at the surface at the end of the dive.

We crossed to Mainit Corner for our surface interval.

Dive #46

Mainit Corner

Brrrr… Most of the dive was at 27 degrees, only reaching 29 degrees under the boat at the end.

It was a beautiful dive. We got around the corner for the first time this holiday. Such an amazing site.

We saw lots of critters, large and small. Some very bright scorpion fish. Some tiny juvenile nudis.

Back to the resort for a wash and brush up followed by drinks at the bar. It is Tiara’s birthday so snacks were provided. Chicken wings and meat on skewers with a very delicious, spicy sauce.

Darryl came to the bar on his own. Dianne looks to have a skin bend and was in the office getting checked over.

Following the administration of 100% oxygen, the bend is responding well. So good news!!

She will continue to be monitored and definitely won’t be diving tomorrow, after that, we wait to see…

To say we are surprised by this, is an understatement. Darryl and Dianne dive twice a day and are always well within limits and dive in a very relaxed way with gentle desents and assents.

It shows that you just can’t be sure and any changes to your body that are worrying you should be checked out.

Between the sessions of oxygen, we all had dinner together,

Richard and I had (his choice), Shanghai rolls, noodles with chicken and vegetables and chop suey. Good choice!

Camera stuff, followed by photo stuff before bed.

Dive Day #12

After the stiff breeze Yesterday, this morning is a lot calmer so, who knows where we shall go!

Favourite sites yet to be dived include RedRock, Bethlehem, Coconut Point, Agahuta and Mainit School. Perhaps we’ll pay them a visit shortly.

Today’s breakfast; pancakes, mango juice and a couple of fried eggs, the classic combo.

An amazing couple of dives this morning, we managed to get away nice and early (07.35) and headed out in glorious sunshine to the first site.

Dive #39 Red Rock

Great to dive this one again, lots of nudi action and some shrimps on an amazing pinnacle in the middle of the sea.

After this it’s back on board for the surface interval whilst we slowly make our way to the next site.

Dive #40 Mainit Corner

A lovely dive with nudi’s, shrimp, frog fish and other delights.

We’ve got to that point in the holiday now where we are on the surface one moment and under it the next so regularly that (apart from the obvious differences) both environments are equally familiar!

This dive is not far from the resort so we find ourselves back at base at just after 11.00 so we head off to the pool to meet Bob.

For lunch I finally caved and went for a B.L.T with fries which was topped off with the banana I pinched at breakfast.

Before long (perhaps not quite long enough) we head out on the afternoon dives.

Dive #41 Mainit School wall.

Wow, what a dive, we start Mainit School as usual and then on to a wall that goes on and on though we then rise above our and make our way back to the boat via lovely coral outcrops.

Back on board for coffee and Oreos before….

Dive #42 Bubbles

Another lovely dive, slightly different route this time on this visually stunning dive.

Back at base it’s bar time.

Then finally. Dinner of chicken adobe, rice and deep fried Lumpia. Lovely

Dive Day #11

Another lovely morning here.  Didn’t sleep too well because Richard was tossing and turning. His excuse was that I was asleep, flat in my back, snoring in the middle of the 4’6″ bed, and he was having to teeter on the edge. Hmmm… I think he must have me confused with someone else…

Before breakfast, it was time for camera stuff.

After breakfast it was time to dive.

Dive #35

Layag Layag (sail is in a sailing boat)

Coral slope

We saw a huge turtle, slug hatching from an egg, nicely positioned nudis.

Across to Minilog where we had our surface interval. Coffee, Oreos and Darryl and Diane brought 7kg of lollies  (sweeties) with them.

Dive #36

Minilog

A coral slope.

Did my check before rolling back. Only 50bar! My tank had been changed! Anyway they found a full tank for me.

Rolled back, descended, no buddy, no dive guide. Hmmm……

I followed Brendan and Vicky for a short while and eventually Eric, our guide, found me. Not too impressive that either my buddy or my guide hadn’t noticed that I wasn’t in the water. I felt a little pissed (understatement).

I finished the dive with 60 bar more than Richard. I have 60 bar… Perhaps he used lots of air looking for me? I doubt it!

We saw lots on the dive, nudis mainly.

Straight to lunch. I had a very tasty BLT and fries. Richard had a not so tasty spag bol.

Diving again at 2pm. The wind has got up.

Dine #37

Arthur’s Point

Choppy on top, a bit more than I like.

Dive was fine, spent most time on rubble at about 20 meters. Surge at that depth too.

As we came up, more surge. Safety stop under the boat in the blue and then coming to the surface one at a time to avoid anyone waiting on the surface. Very rough! Our guide made sure he was ok, he got out first. Jomar, Brendan and Vicky’s guide, looked after us underwater and got us all out safely. Also a big thank you to Wendell, our captain, and Gewell, our crew, for their help.

It was a slow trip around to the next dive site due to the sea state. The surface interval was spent at Secret Bay, coffee, Oreos and bananas.

Dive #38

Secret Bay

A sandy slope – muck dive

The bubbles, coming from the same, were amazing. It was like diving in lemonade. The most bubbles we have ever seen. Just amazing. Had to swim into it and just be there are a while.

Lots of nudis and shrimps to see

Completely calm on top! Lovely!

Back to the resort and a quick shower before heading to the beach bar.

Dinner was too big! Two lumpia, ground pork and potato, chop suey and rice. Nice though.

Photo import before bed. The computer was not too happy, so once it settled itself down we took a back up of the pictures and Lightroom catalog

Lights off before 9.30 – late night!

Dive Day #10

Well, this is the first day of the second half of our adventure. For the next few days we have a different guide (Eric) as Nanie is away for the week. We await with much interest to see how he copws with us!

I’m sure that with sufficient induction and training, he’ll be able to cope with our desires.

Breakfast was the usual combination of eggs and other stuff and I sneaked away a couple of bananas for us to forget to eat for morning snacks.

… And yet again, we forget to eat them!

Dive #31 Kirbys Rock

We arrive just after the first boat and end up hanging on the back of it. This means that after entry we have to swim towards the wall before making our descent.

Eric keeps us busy with lots of small things to see and then Jo finds the larger orange nudi which was just awesome.

There were several boats on the site at the same time which meant that parts of the dive were diver soup. Fortunately not the boys that we were on!

Back on board it’s coffee and orios time as we spend our surface interval over the second site.

Dive #32 Cavan Cove.

Eric is finding lots of small stuff including a purple winged unicorn nudi, another lovely dive.

Back to base for a brief inter lude and lunch stop as we have one again bought the afternoon dive forward to 2.00pm.

Fillet of fish in a white wine source for me whilst Jo sticks with her regular (BLT and fries)

Dive #33 Elmers Point.

Another excellent dive work plenty to see, many coral outcrops on an otherwise sandy slope.

Dive #34 Twin Rocks

Off to a good start with a harlequin shrimp with eggs.

Not the most willing subject but I snapped away regarless. This was followed by a collection of micro nudi’s and shrimp and ended with the bog pink one with yellow gills etc alongside a baby one. At least the baby faced my way!

Back at base after a brief interlude at the bar we head over to dinner which tonight consisted of tuna sisig, pancit vegitables and shanghai Rolls, super yum.

Diving day #9

After last night’s wind, it has calmed down again…

Dive #27

Daryl Laut

The barge wreck

Lovely dive. We spent time on the sand below the wreck looking for nudis then on to the wreck.

Different nudis, Christmas tree worms and general prettiness.

We spent our surface interval at Minilog eating lollies, but when it came to diving there was a bit of current. So we moved to Olympic.

Dive #28

Olympic

Most of our time was spent on the rubble between 16m and 27m.

We saw yellow featherstar shrimp, zebra crabs on a fire coral and I saw a shark. Small, similar to at home. Not sure if it was a baby or fully grown.

Back at base, it was time for lunch.  BLT for me and carbonara for Richard.

Diving again at 2pm, so a little culling of photos.

Dive #29

Apol’s Point

What an amazing site this is. So beautiful covered with featherstars and swarming with thousands of red tooth triggerfish, which surrounded us. Fabulous!

We saw lots of critters, on the top of my list was the pink pygmy seahorse, even got a picture. Slugs, shrimps including peacock mantis shrimp.

We moved to Coconut point for the surface interval, but the current was strong so we moved to Mainit West for our last dive of the day.

Dive #30

Mainit West

Coral garden, on a slope, no current

A lovely relaxing dive

We saw lots of critters and took plenty of photos.  Another reef octopus.

Very short trip back to the resort.

At the bar by six, lots of chatting!

Dinner at seven. Baby back ribs, coleslaw and fries for us to share.

There is a local party to celebrate the end of May. We could have gone but five of us six opted to retire instead. Only Darryl chose to go. I am sure we will hear all about it tomorrow.

Photo sorting, I have been at it for the last hour and a half, while Richard has been snoring in a not too quiet manner, which of course he would deny.

Tomorrow our lovely guide, Nanny, is off for five days, doing family stuff. We have Eric, a new guide. We will report back on how that goes…

Dive Day #8

We head down for an early breakfast and we greet our friends Darrall and Dianne from Adelaide. With Brendan and Vicki from Melbourne, we are now six.

That being said, due to various coughs etc, it’s just Jo and I on the boat this morning though we are joined by Marrianne from Germany for the morning.

For breakfast, a couple of fried eggs along with a sandwich of ham and cheese (you know, the triangles!).

Dive #23 Kirbys Rock

A lovely current free dive on the rock where a lot of time was spent with the pygmy seahorse and various other critters at depth so before long we needed to shallow up and avoid deco.

On the boat it’s time for coffee and orios as we head over to ‘olympic’ for our second dive.

We anchor up and wait for the surface interval to complete.

Dive #24 Olympic

We set nannies the objective of finding Tiger shrimp on this dive and just before the end, he delivered. Well done indeed. Now if only the little bugger would keep still I might just get a picture of it.

No, it’s sole intention was to scramble back down the slope at speed making portrait photography a little challenging, I clicked away regardless.

Now back to base for a lunch of Kinilaw La Tinigui, raw tuna with ginger and chilli. Awesome!

After a bob in the pool I’m sitting on the balcony writing this and waiting for afternoon dive which we bought forward an hour from 3.00pm to 2.00pm.

Dive #25 Bubbles

Never has the vis been quite so good on this dive as it was today. What is usually dark and intimidating was today bright and highly visible. That being said, only a few of the regular nudi’s showed up today. Then at the end of the dive by the boat, the current fish swam by.

After the surface interval (fuelled by oreos and coffee) we get back in at The next site.

Dive #26 Twin Rocks

We didn’t go far but we saw plenty including well positioned nudi’s and an entire family of large octopus – three of them!

Another lovely dive on our second day here in Anilao.

Apparently it had a shot of just about everything!

Tonight’s dinner consisted of sweet&sour chicken, vegitable chop suey and rice, a good combination.

It looks like the move from 3 to 4 dives a day is taking its toll as I might just have dozed off a little at dinner!

Dive Day #7

It would appear that Richard forgot to mention that my last dive was dive #1800. When we started, never in my wildest dreams did I think that I would do that amount of dives.

Thunderstorm last night. Oh boy, the loudest and flashiest we have ever experienced!! Oh, and it poured and poured!!

When we awoke this morning (4.00 for Richard and 5.45 for me) it was blue sky, sunshine and wind free for our crossing to Anilao.

We were packed, and at breakfast before 7.00.

We packed very carefully, one bag to go to the dive centre, one bag for the camera room and everything else to go to our room.

It looks like our crossing to Anilao will be fast. Water taxi coming at 8.00.

Hoping to be diving all for dives today…

Our water taxi arrives early. We are wavef off by Marie-Chris and leave the jetty at 7.36 and arrive at Anilao exactly 30 minutes later at 8.06. We are in, sorted, out again on a boat and in the water at 8.25.

Step off the boat, hugs all round. Nanny is here, our wonderful guide.

Our friends Brendan and Vicky (from Oz and China, although now living in Oz) are here already and waiting to go diving.

Dive #19

Mainit Corner

One of my favorite dives. So much to see.

First we saw a dragon shrimp, Christmas tree worms, all sorts of nudis, range from small to large, shrimp in a featherstar

Surface interval with coffee and Oreos!!!! Turtle at the surface.

Dive #20

Arthur’s Wall

Excellent dive. Beautiful reef and wall.

We saw various nudis shrimps on wire corals.

Lunch was BLT and fries for me and baby back ribs and fries for Richard.

It is only at this point, at about 1.30 that we actually get to our room to unpack.

Out diving again at 2.30. At 2.20, it would appear that we are late, Brendan and Vicky are already on board…

Dive #21

Koala

Reef down to about 16 meters, then a bit of a wall.  At about 28 meters,  on the wall, I had a chance to take pictures of a pink pregnant pygmy seahorse. Nice.

We saw a beautiful reef and lots of critters and a pink pregnant pygmy seahorse,

Surface interval, more coffee and more Oreos. Nice!

Dive #22

Mainit West – dodging the current fish

I know it is starting to sound boring but another excellent dive and another chance to take a picture of pink pygmy seahorse.

We saw nudis, shrimps, pygmy seahorse plus other critters barracuda and a turtle.

After a quick shower, we have cocktails at the bar, Richard a Negroni and me a mango daiquiri. We are chatting to Dave the resort owner, and Steve and his daughter, Mia, for the US.

We are joined by Brendan and Vicky and then have dinner. Tuna sisig, chop suey vegetables and fried rice.

Back in the room, lots of pictures to sort out. Waiting for Darryl and Dianne to arrive from Oz. It’s now 10pm and they haven’t arrived yet, so we are going to sleep.

Zzzzzz