Galapagos. Our first and second dives.

Tashi Delek
Mike & Carol Kefford
Mon 14 Apr 2014 21:22

This was our first dive since we completed our course a couple of months ago so were a little apprehensive.  However, Dirk, from dancing Bear had not only thoroughly researched the dive shops but already done several dives with this team and been impressed so we were happy that we would be looked after.

 

The dive boat picked us up from Tashi Delek (very convenient) about 0645 and the trip to the dive site took around 45 minutes during which we had a tremendous sighting of pilot wales and dolphins close to the boat.

 

 

Once we reached the site, Oscar the divemaster, noted that the currents were strong that day and that we were novices so the plan was immediately changed to accommodate us.  Very pleased we were!  The routine was that once we stopped we were given some muesli and yogourt for breakfast, briefed on the dive site and what we may see and given the safety rules.  Because it was the first time that Mike and I had dived with them Oscar took us in for a test dive first during which he wanted to watch us do our safety drills of clearing our masks and taking the regulator out of our mouth then back in, clearing it and breathing.  That was a good refresher and confidence boost for us before the dive proper.

 

The hope on this dive was that we would see Hammerhead Sharks but no guarantees.  There were two groups of four and we were paired with a delightful young Dutch couple who had taken a year out to travel.  ???? name was a Michelin starred chef although he only looked old enough to have just left college.  Both were very experienced divers and kept an eye on us.

 

Five minutes in and we are getting along nicely when…….  Hammerheads.  More than we could hope to count swam gently beneath us.  Awesome.  Visibility wasn’t really good enough for a photograph but we got a great view.

 

 

 

And off we go……..

 

 

 

 

…… and find a Galapagos shark just hanging out…..

 

 

…some rays overhead…

 

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Then back to the boat for snacks and a breather, literally, before the next dive at a different site.