It was a spectacular morning here in paradise and we decided to try and enjoy it.  Our time in Suwarrow has been tinged with sadness due to Amiable’s grounding but we decided to take time out and go snorkelling.  It was one of those magic, still mornings and as we headed out in the tender a shout went up from Beluga Free – there were two humpback whales right in the anchorage.  For the next half hour we watched these amazing creatures as they played in and around the boats – getting very close and even touching Atlantide.  It was very very special and we felt quite privileged.  Once they’d swum away we went to snorkel but there were no mantas – probably, as caretaker Harry told us later, scared away by the whales.

 

After lunch we decided we simply had to do work on Bandit so out came the Sailrite to attend to our genoa (the sunbrella protection strip had came loose) and bimini, which needed patching.  Then it was back to Amiable to lay a kedge anchor to stop her drifting off the reef if the wind changes.  As the guys were in the water setting the anchor a manta glided by so I donned my snorkel and jumped in to swim with it.   As I did I noticed the sharks acting quite differently – they usually just glide by and ignore you – this time they were looking quite aggressive so I jumped out.  Turned out one of the guys had cut himself on coral and was bleeding!  Later Harry swung by with fresh fish for dinner.  He is such an amazing character.  After we’d cleaned the fish we took the remains to the other side of the island where Harry feeds the sharks.  It was astonishing to watch black tipped, white tipped and grey sharks fighting over the scraps in knee deep water!

 

We’re hoping to head away tomorrow....once we’ve had a last minute weather forecast.