Day 21 on Niue on board FGT Fri 10 September 2010 Position Lat 19-03S Long 169-55W moored at Niue – Zero Cape Petrel miles to Niue. (1274m from Whangarei NZ) Wind 10 to 25 knots South East. Boat speed av 0 knots. Barometer 101 9 – that dang high Sails – none!! Still none. cloud cover -100%. Air temp 26C water temp 24C – overcast
Fakaalofa Atu from Oma Tafua – Greetings from To Treasure Whales
The alarm got the Sm going at 6am ready for the ‘Big Dive’. Picked up another diver from the Infinity and met the Niue Dive folk – Annie – at the wharf. The Sm was a tad apprehensive so kept his mouth shut while other divers gathered at Niue Dive HQ. ND has been run by Ian and Annie – Aussie palangi – for 11 years and they really know diving – they calmed down the Sm with some lighthearted banter and fitted him with the right gear. When asked for his dive experience the crowd kind of looked away in embarrassment when they heard it was his 3rd open water dive and first ocean number. The y were saying stuff like 100 plus dives – 2000 plus dives – all looking very blasé, and sort of pitying. So off to the Coral bommie and fit on the gear. In our inflatable we had 4 divers plus Ian ( 10 years Navy 30 years diving ) who was the epitome of a relaxed pro dive master – just exuded confidence – went through all the safety aspects and said do a rollback entry – A what?? Next thing the Sm is floating in wonderland wondering what he was so worried about. Once Ian adjusted his weights off we all went the Sm right – meaning inches – behind Ian to explore the rocky bottom at 60 feet. Very cool coral but the Sm was breathing pretty hard and had to concentrate on relaxing which is kind of contrary things to do. Saw lots of coral and little fish and after 40 minutes approx we surfaced to a chilly wind. The Sm feeling quite good at not having panicked or disgraced himself. The other divers now accepted the Sm into their world and off we went to Snake Gully a 10 minute boat ride away. The deal here is to check out the kraits – a variety of snake reptiles – extremely poisonous – tool into a cave under a bridge to water with the sun shining down on it – return then take a look into a real cave using flashlights. The Sm went with Anna the doc from the Infinity – and thought that was ok but what was the point? Apparently the point is to say you have been into an underwater cave!! Cruising about one of the guys was playing with a krait so the Sm very tentatively poked it with his finger – scaley texture and then he kept a respectable distance. The kraits have to surface for air every 15 minutes so you see them writhing up and down minding their own business. Visability was at least 50 meters and depth is deceptive because you can see the top and bottom which apparently is a novel thing for divers. So, our hero, the Sm managed to survive this encounter nicely and may even do it again. Back at the boat he snoozed then attended a birthday party on the Infinity – half the world were there and he lasted a couple of hours before calling that a day. Ah yes – Mr. Experienced diver!!
Mutolu Kia from a worn out diver aboard FalconGt
website www.svfalcongt.com
Fakaalofa Atu from Oma Tafua – Greetings from To Treasure Whales
The alarm got the Sm going at 6am ready for the ‘Big Dive’. Picked up another diver from the Infinity and met the Niue Dive folk – Annie – at the wharf. The Sm was a tad apprehensive so kept his mouth shut while other divers gathered at Niue Dive HQ. ND has been run by Ian and Annie – Aussie palangi – for 11 years and they really know diving – they calmed down the Sm with some lighthearted banter and fitted him with the right gear. When asked for his dive experience the crowd kind of looked away in embarrassment when they heard it was his 3rd open water dive and first ocean number. The y were saying stuff like 100 plus dives – 2000 plus dives – all looking very blasé, and sort of pitying. So off to the Coral bommie and fit on the gear. In our inflatable we had 4 divers plus Ian ( 10 years Navy 30 years diving ) who was the epitome of a relaxed pro dive master – just exuded confidence – went through all the safety aspects and said do a rollback entry – A what?? Next thing the Sm is floating in wonderland wondering what he was so worried about. Once Ian adjusted his weights off we all went the Sm right – meaning inches – behind Ian to explore the rocky bottom at 60 feet. Very cool coral but the Sm was breathing pretty hard and had to concentrate on relaxing which is kind of contrary things to do. Saw lots of coral and little fish and after 40 minutes approx we surfaced to a chilly wind. The Sm feeling quite good at not having panicked or disgraced himself. The other divers now accepted the Sm into their world and off we went to Snake Gully a 10 minute boat ride away. The deal here is to check out the kraits – a variety of snake reptiles – extremely poisonous – tool into a cave under a bridge to water with the sun shining down on it – return then take a look into a real cave using flashlights. The Sm went with Anna the doc from the Infinity – and thought that was ok but what was the point? Apparently the point is to say you have been into an underwater cave!! Cruising about one of the guys was playing with a krait so the Sm very tentatively poked it with his finger – scaley texture and then he kept a respectable distance. The kraits have to surface for air every 15 minutes so you see them writhing up and down minding their own business. Visability was at least 50 meters and depth is deceptive because you can see the top and bottom which apparently is a novel thing for divers. So, our hero, the Sm managed to survive this encounter nicely and may even do it again. Back at the boat he snoozed then attended a birthday party on the Infinity – half the world were there and he lasted a couple of hours before calling that a day. Ah yes – Mr. Experienced diver!!
Mutolu Kia from a worn out diver aboard FalconGt
website www.svfalcongt.com
