jaques back

Well folks
today was the day to get back in the water and see whats changed
so i went round to some very good Swedish Friends who live and work out here and had the morning with them before they kitted me out with the necessary wet suite and weight belt. I am getting a bit softer in the cold water now.

Then i walked for ten minutes away from the Muppet's that drink beer and shout madness
to a place up from dahab called eel garden(famous for eels) small eels that is.
The sea was rather rough today and strangely the wind had changed direction,
so it was nice to get in the water and be the only snorkeler in the water.
after battling waves for a good ten minutes I swam back in and transferred down a little
to a place a little bit more sheltered. Still alone in the water.

I always look for a fin as it's something that i used to see when i was a boy down here.
often I'd chase the Napoleon fish out and spend the afternoon with the manta further down the coast.
Now it's never going to happen as many of them have left for quieter areas.
Always makes me think of the joke about two sharks following the divers.
one says to the other
whatever you do don't eat that fucker with the tank on his back it makes you fart!

anyway I always try and go out a bit so I'm alone and look out towards Saudi.
away from the madness of dahab its so peaceful and the blue both up and below is rather
magical. One of my fav colours out there.

If you have never done it then believe me getting lost in the blue is rather strange and unique.


go and watch the movie the big blue immediately!

Amway after realising how out of shape i am i finned out against the wind and low and behold within ten feet of the shore there was a small speckled moray eel. what a lovely chap he just looked at me.
Over the years I have developed a quiet detachment with nature. Just sit and glide and observe.
I see so many folk flapping around when all that's need is to glide and listen to the surf.
After a small amount of time the fish just accept you and you can watch them at work eating and working the reef
in all its many magnificent ways.

anyway after while of fining i did what i loved . turned my back to the surf and glided over the reef.
if you relax and let the water take you it will gently bring you back into the shore with less than an inch or two separating you from the coral. It's a bit like hang gliding. yippee

butterfly fish
clown fish
puffer fish that always entertain
angel fish
parrot fish

on and on it went
just gliding over the reef
letting them all just carry on underneath me almost like a passenger.
It also helps as the fish here are More accustomed to the surf and less startled with
a giant fool in spandex coming towards them.


then just as i thought I had failed in my quest the lion fish I had been seeking emerged ever so briefly from
a hidden rock and then darted back in. It was a little rough for them today so I was lucky to have spotted one.

I turned around and hid behind the rock and after a few minutes it came back out

this image is what she looked like.
beautiful and deadly but ever so majestic in the water.
then as i waited she came out for awhile had a look and then darted back.
worth coming here just for the little time i had with it.
there are many many here. Very nice indeed.

After that i just sat in the shallows smiling and playing in the small water.

As i was coming in smiling I was roped into
helping on a dive course for some rescue certification.
more fun as I tried to make the hurt diver laugh and stop pretending to be distressed.

Ahhhh

well its all good fun
if you haven't snorkelled then
get your tits out to a reef and do it.

more soon

Bo