Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Last Supper !

I kind of got quite attached to this place, but it is the end of an era;

So much for saving the planet

Back to Switzerland and 6 months' worth of post held at the sorting office looked like this :

Which reduced down to this in terms of valuable paper;

Somebody needs to do something about such a chronic waste of natural resources.

Saturday, September 8, 2012

Invitation only 3 dive day

Awesome diving starting at Crystal Bay (!) first dive relatively deep looking for Mola Mola, hanging on to corals to keep out of the current. Second dive into the Bat Cave through a tunnel which is quite spectacular, return trip we ran into washing machine currents which was very hairy for everybody, extreme currents swirling in every direction, hang on to coral, pick your moment and go for it. Final 3rd dive at Blue Corner Lembongan, a fantastic cliff formation at around 20m, great drift dive along the cliff, highlight being 6 or 7 Bull Rays and a Giant Turtle close-up.

Thursday, September 6, 2012

Free Diving at Ahmed

This is an incredible challenge arising from a conversation at a party on Monday night, with Minni. Free diving course by Julia (Argentina) with Minni, Holly and Magnus. Bus trip up to Ahmed and settling in, then 2.5 hours of theory on free diving, then off to the ocean for practice. Format is very much the same as PADI in style, but the ideas are quite different if not even contradictory - very interesting. This afternoon's challenge was to get down a line to 12m, kitted up with the long fins etc and off we go. Very interesting personal challenge, which is all about controlling the mind, after several false starts, managed to crack it, and then followed in with 2 further repeats as I slowly started to get my head around it. Some very strange effects as you go down as the pressure takes over, buoyancy tumbles and the O2 pp increases giving a strange sensation of starting to slide in to the deeper water. Tricky equalising, but I think I have cracked it.

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

Nusa Penida again !

Great to be back with the gang in Bali. A 3 dive day at Nusa Penida with Robyn who was giving and AOWD, therefore I ended up looking after Sally (OWD 6 dives). First dive at Manta Point revealed a Manta, Mola Mola and Turtle. Dive 2 at Toyapakeh and dive 3 at SD, usual drifts dives over magnificent corals of all shapes, sizes and varieties.

Thursday, August 30, 2012

Rumble in the Jungle

Day out to Thong Nai Pan (literally Mr Pan's stomach), this is a beautiful spot, even if the road over the top through the jungle is a bit of a hairy experience,

Getting ready to travel back to Bali for a few days before picking up the return flight back to Geneva.

Monday, August 20, 2012

Bull Sharks !

In recent weeks these chaps have taken up residence around the Sail Rock. Lots of close encounters, many probably too close for comfort as they are very dangerous, so far it seems they have more of a taste for surfers than divers ... so far !

This is one of the best photos, thanks to Woody.