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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

Sadness prevails as its our last day diving here. Tomorrow we transfer to Anilao.

Regardless, today, after a breakfast of fresh croissant, banana pancake and bacon we head out for the first dive.iju

Dive #16, just this side of sinandang wall.

A lovely clean reef with plenty to see including Nudis, Candy Crab in soft coral and pristine colourful reef festoon with featherstars.

We head back to the usual spot (opposite Secret Bay) for tea, coffee and surface interval after which we dive at:

Dive #17 Secret Bay

Starting a little deeper than usual we find much to keep us occupied including butterfly nudis and a tiny red Frog Fish.

After this we are hunting for some large Coleman Shrimp that we spotted previously. Along the way we find all sorts including a pair of pipe fish.

Right at the end of the dive, when Joseph (our guide) has his SMB ready to launch, I spot them, Hurrah!

Jo go’s in for the pictures and then the dive ends!

We head back for lunch and managed to hit a fairly large block of wood on the way round. Everything stopped but the Stainless props were – phew!

Back on dry land it’s lunch time – grilled calamaris – two of them – so so very tasty!

It transpires that today is the day to replace one of the restaurant roofs so we take our lunch at ‘the other’ restaurant instead, equally lovely, just no sea view. We are joined by new guests (two of them) though they are non-divers so we are still the only divers in the resort.

All out again for the afternoon dive

Dive #18 White Beach

Back here again for our last dive of this section of the trip. Mostly sand at the start, some micro Bob Tail Squid (2mm long!) and other micro critters eventually give way to coral outcrops and then an entire reef which has several well positioned nudies and sea fans (a favourite of Jo’s). We end up with another tiny frog fish an a ‘Jo’ (no not my buddy but an actual creature) we’ll tell more once we have studied the photos.

Back on the boat – all sad faces, kit comes apart and is washed when we get back to shore.

A swift (well, actually not so swift) bob in the pool with a Mango Daquiri and a Negrone (my new favourite drink) before we hang stuff up to dry as best we can and stuff everything into bags.

Because of the extremely short transfer time (<30 minutes) we shall be holding our cameras and wearing our dive kit. We have arranged to jump off the private taxi and right on to a dive boat the moment we arrive. Lets see how the plan is actually executed in the morning!

Right now we are surrounded by drying dive gear and mostly packed bags – time to head off to dinner me thinks!

I slept well, Richard not so much…

Another beautiful day. Less clouds than yesterday and looks like less wind too.

Time for breakfast…

Every time we are here I have Lipton’s green tea and kalamansi to drink. Delicious. Bought the stuff to make it at home… Not delicious! What’s the difference?

We are thinking that today, we will be the only divers. Maggie left for UK yesterday and Beni and Matt leave for Australia today.

So we wait to see.

Every morning, at home and abroad we do (or try to do) the NY Times Connections.

Dive #13

Sinandang Wall

Right round the far side. A fair amount of chop on the surface. Not my favourite.

Once underwater there was total calmness. No surge, no current.

Coral outcrops and a wall later in the dive.

We saw two large reef octopus. The second one I thought that I would entice it out by scratching the rock around the area. The octopus came straight out, it gave me a bit of a start! It then tried to hide again.

We also saw, a couple of Cinderella nudis and a beautiful risbecia among lots of other stuff.

Our surface interval was spent here…

It looked like this, panoramic view.

Dive #14

A different part of this site. The first hour was spent on stones and rubble, the next half hour was a bit deeper on sand.

We saw lots. Lots of different nudis teeny tiny cuttlefish and a blue shrimp on a blue starfish. Finished off with a Shaun the sheep slug.

We had a dip in the pool before lunch of sausages, Chinese fried rice and lettuce. Very tasty. Richard had pudding of fruit cocktail and ice cream.

Dive #15

White beach

Looking for the blue ringed octopus again.

A bit of current combined with sausage acid reflux at the beginning of the dive, I wasn’t feeling too happy. Then I spotted a nicely positioned flabelina,  and order was restored!!

The flabelina was shortly followed by a frogfish and the blue ringed octopus. Lots of pictures were taken. After all of that, there was a mimic octopus with its eyes just popping up about the sand. I very slowly and gently put my hand towards it and it reached out and touched my finger with its tentacle – a very special moment!

After the dive we went for a dip in the pool, where we drank cocktails. Richard had another negroni and I had a mango daiquiri.

Then a review of the photos, of which there were lots.

It is quiet in the restaurant this evening…

Red horse and sprite, both with copious amounts of ice…

So… Pasta course…

Followed by…

And for the first time, Richard had no dessert!

Alexia and Sandra came and chatted with us after dinner. It was lovely to catch up with them and tell them what a lovely time we were having.

On the way back to our room, I almost stepped on this frog (toad?). That would have made a mess!!

That’s about it for today. Tomorrow is our last diving day in Puerto Galera, which is sad but we will be diving in Anilao the day after that. Happy days.