More spectacular diving and dinosaurs 4/18

Slept in until 5 this am, we are making progress, but I do love waking up early even if it means going to bed early. Dammit I’m officially old. Well we got some amazing shots of the reds in the sky from the sun rising on the other side of the island. Another good breakfast of eggs and rolls and we were off for the scuba shop by 630.

We jumped back on the boat again, this time w/ half the crowd as they were taking the other boat, this was the Rinca Island boat. We met a young buck from VA who is working in the Maldives as a ocean biologist trying to save the fucked up reefs. Apparently 90% of all the shallow corals are dead and the Maldivian government doesn’t want it to get out to stop tourism. Also, he says the locals blame the trash on the visitors, when the locals are the biggest perps. They throw everything away because all they see is a huge ocean and the trash they live in doesn’t mean much to them. They also bury their trash only 3 ft down and some of it leaks into the ocean- they are on island after all. Basically we are all fucked.

Our fist dive was a lovely gentle dive (after we swam against the current for way too long). The coral was beautiful and vibrant, making me feel like our world isn’t being completely destroyed. Then the second dive was a 3 out of 5 current dive. If so, I’d hate to see what 4 and 5 have in store. We descended as soon as we jumped in since the current was so strong. It was me and Andy, the biologist Cory and a dude we met from yesterday Stewart. As soon as we got down, we started the journey along the ocean bottom, and we were rocking fast. It was like riding in the passenger seat of a race car driver. I just held on and tried to steer as much as possible. It was a little scary but fun since you can’t really fight it. Then we had to swim into the current. I really hate that shit. It’s exhausting and scary that if you don’t make it, you’ll blow into the great abyss. Our group finally made it to the sandy part and I tried to hold on for dear life w/o killing coral on the sandy bottom. Just as we made it to the sandy area, a Manta swam right up and over us! Stu was so preoccupied I had to hit him to get him to see it. Then the Manta swam right in front of me and hit the sandy bottom (not sure what it was doing), w/o noticing us at all. Very cool! That was the last of the Manta, the rest of the peeps on the boat missed them.

Then we headed back for a slight drift to the top of a reef. It was shallow but the light was shining in, making all the coral and fish so beautiful. We saw a turtle who didn’t pay us any attention so we were able to get great pics. He was just chomping along, eating and wanting us to get out of his way. This was a great way to end the dive trip. Only two dives today.

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Lunch consisted of pad thai w/ peanut sauce, it was sooo good! Then we left the boat for Rinca Island, one of the two homes of the Komodo Dragons. It was fucking hot and I was pretty sure I had sun burn, either way I wasn’t comfortable. We walked the boardwalk into the park and paid our fees. Our guide walked us around for 40 min or so. We saw some Komodo’s laying next to the kitchen waiting for food to fall (it doesn’t). They lifted their head every now and then, I was waiting for them to attack (they didn’t). We saw another one drinking from the stream. Then it started to walk back and took a big poo which looked like bird poo. That’s the most excitement to come from them during the day. We saw their nest which are holes in the ground. Also a 5 year old baby was walking around, staying out of the way of the big ones so it doesn’t get eaten.
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Back in the boat for our ride back to the dock. Andy and I napped on the top deck w/ the wind on us. Sooo relaxing. I was beat from the hard dives and heat on Rinca Island. When we got back we hit up our normal spot for the Bintang’s and fried fish and squid. It was spicy but I wasn’t in that much pain this time. Apparently if you keep up the spice you adapt as long as you keep eating it.  Andy tried some of the oil (not smart) and it was burning his lips. We both ate a couple bites of the cucumber and left it sit in our mouths to cool our tongue (it kinda works), we didn’t care if get food poisoning at this point, this damn food is hot.

It rained and we watched it pour from our seat while the sunset. We headed back to the hotel w/ the Muslim call to prayer in the background. It carries on for 15+ min? We saw a mosque next to the church in town. Cats and dogs, living together, mass hysteria. We jump in the pool at the hotel Andy carries me around and around the perimeter in the pool w/ the noodles. So relaxing. Last night on this lovely island. We’ll be back. I hate to leave this jewel.