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Published: June 16th 2018
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RESIDENT ANEMONE FISH
I am destined to take at least ten clown fish photos. ANILAO 2
THE STORM
I settled into a routine…eat, dive, relax, eat again. The diving was easy and there was so much to see.
The weather was foul; heavy winds and heavy rain. It just got worse and worse, but we are divers, right? It makes little difference underwater. So we got up, ate breakfast and went to the boat. Surface intervals were very cold. I was hungry for the sun.
Then one of the staff told us there was a typhoon in Leyte and we were getting winds and rain because of it. On the way back to my room after lunch I glanced up at my bungalow and wondered if it might slide down the hill. Then I shook off the thought…don’t borrow trouble I told myself.
The fifth night I woke to use the restroom. When I stepped over the threshold my foot squished into something wet and gritty. I turned on the light and discovered there was mud on the floor. Lots of mud. And muddy residue in the sink. I don’t know how it got there. I tried to clean the floor but that was hopeless, so I settled with just
RIBBON EEL
I've only gotton one photo in fifteen years of this eel swimming...it looks like the wide taffy we used to buy for a penny (showing my age). And of course they are much longer than the taffy. covering it with a towel. Then I washed and dried my feet. There was no phone. I opened the door to pounding rain, thunder, lightning and falling palm branches. I didn’t want to brave the storm so I couldn’t contact the front desk. Sleep was impossible and by dawn I was truly grumpy. The storm had abated and I went down to the front desk and complained. Why? Complaining did not change the facts or help a bit. They sent housekeeping to clean up the mess in the bathroom, but one of the walls was also soaked by the rain. I went to breakfast.
The housekeeper found me in the dining hall and told me they decided I should change rooms. I wanted to just sip my tea after breakfast, but instead I had to hurriedly pack everything up and move to another room. For one day! I managed to do it all and get to the dive boat on time, but I had to work on my attitude. Things looked brighter after diving and lunch. I did nine dives in all.
The last day (can you believe it?) dawned bright and clear…real sun. I checked my dive
PYGMY SEA HORSE
I apologize for the reef stick but these little guys are very difficult to find, and very difficult to see; they blend so well with their surrounding sea fan. This sea fan was actually pink, the normal color, and blue, which I had never seen before. gear and turned it several times so it would dry completely before I packed it in the suitcase. I wanted to sit on the lovely deck and read for a few minutes in the sun, but I didn’t have time. It was a three hour taxi ride to the airport. As the car started up I looked at the hill that loomed above me and saw that there were pipes poking out of the hillside draining excess water onto the road. The system seemed to work quite well.
Despite the traffic, we arrived at the airport early and I waited an additional three hours for my flight ticket counter to open. There was still no internet, and once again, I had no hotel reservations for my next destination…Palau.
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D MJ Binkley
Dave and Merry Jo Binkley
Fellow divers
As fellow divers we always enjoy your amazing photography. Sorry the weather didn't cooperate. Can't wait to read about Palau.