22-FEB-2007
Smokin'
Day four : a nice portrait of the greenhouse gas hole. Sink this boat and the world pollution problem is over... but you won't be able to dive anymore...
Oooh I see : let's keep that pollution problem alive, okay?
This is the kind of boat that will drift you nicely to your dive site. The good thing is that after a one hour ride, you cannot feel the liquid coming out of your ears and when the engine stops after two hours, you don't even notice it.
22-FEB-2007
The Boss
Probably the best dive site tied with Dixon's Pinnacle is Johnny's Gorge named after guide Johnny.
Let me introduce you to the boss of this site a giant potato grouper of .. I don't know, 1m20, 1m40... he's BIG...
22-FEB-2007
Snapper school
Along with giant groupers, this ite is remarkable with the density of fish just sitting there. You have to push them to go forward. Here's a bunch of snappers that look as stupid as a herd of sheep.. and they are certainly.
The main drawback of this site is that it's almost a "square profile" dive at 28m depth, hence the diving time is limited. Without further notice my computer struck a 8 minutes deco stop, after I took a bit of time to portray the boss of the site.
Nitrox would me more than welcome. Think about it, Vinnie.
22-FEB-2007
Moorish idol
After a deco dive on Johnny's Gorge, Minerva Ledge is an ideal shallow site for a second dive.
This is a huge continuous hard coral reef with plenty of small coral fish. Macro lens should be ideal here. Wrong number, I didn't have it, hence I had to run after midle sized fish like this Moorish Idol.
23-FEB-2007
Into the Bommie Maze
Day five, last day diving. DiveIndia had chartered a private boat for the two of us who only wished a single dive due to flying the day after.
Going to Dixon's Pinnacle at low tide wasn't an easy job for the boatman, trying to get past the maze of coral bommies. I think he fell a few times, and tried to do his best back on the boat not to show he was hurt.
23-FEB-2007
Chasing Trevally
Down on Dixon's Pinnacle the current was exhilarating this time.
I wouldn't have mind a dive hook, as we were creeping our way on the top of the pinnacle. On the outer edge of the reef the trevallies and the bonitos are going wild chasing some baitfish.
23-FEB-2007
Percula Clownfish
Down in the lee side where no current happens, I found a shelter for doing some clownfish photography, something I simply can't resist.
In the meantime I may have missed a shark or two.
23-FEB-2007
Percula Clownfish bis
Another percula clownfish photo and probably some more sharks missed in the meantime.
23-FEB-2007
Doted Grouper
Some other of my favorite preys : red coral grouper, glassfish school and hanging crinoids.
There must be a rule in underwater photo that says "don't mix the good things together or it'll give crap".
I should have known it beforehand, though this was probably my last underwater photo in the Andamans... so far...
23-FEB-2007
Back in the Ferry
A few hours later, time to get on the 4:30 ferry to port Blair. nobody seems incredibly happy to get back to the real world... this young couple doesn't make any exception... or perhaps is it just a matter of a broken nail.
So this ends a first stay in Havelock... something makes me think it won't be our last.
Thanks to all the nice folks we met on our holidays, Shirin, Russa, Bedussa, Pedro, Jan, Michael, Chris and of course Pritha, Vinnie, Manty, Dixon, the team at the resort/dive center and whoever I forgot to name.
PS to Frodo : I gave you back your plastic toy bone you managed to hide in my divebag, pls return my Suunto pouch.
