Monday 12 September 2016

Since departing New Zealand last year we've sailed on the Tasman Sea, Coral Sea, Arafura Sea, Banda Sea, Flores Sea, Java Sea, South China Sea, Sulu Sea, Celebes Sea, Molucca Sea and now the Halmahera Sea. Well that's just wrong. That's four more than there are suppose to be and hell, what about the Mediterranean and Caribbean, huh? This has put quite a strain on membership in the Seven Seas Cruising Association. Credibility is shot. Who came up with that number anyway and which ones count? Are many of them usurpers? Are we going to have to boot several off the list like was done to Pluto. Nine was a good number of planets. Eight just isn't enough and seven seas apparently isn't either. Come on people, let's get this straight. Either get the count right or relegate the extras to really, really big bays or something. Know what I mean, Vern?

Arrived Wayag around 1600 today. Hope word of this place doesn't get around. It's all ours and it's gorgeous. Too late to do anything but snorkel and, with limited time and dying light, it was good. Saw a wee black tip sharklet and the largest bump head parrot fish in the solar system (originally thought universe, then galaxy, but didn't want to exaggerate). It was however the size of a Trident class submarine and could easily chomp an arm off (OK, maybe a little). Fortunately they eat coral, not people. Have now plotted published dive locations and have high hopes. Water visibility is 10 to 20 meters.

Tuesday

Embracing chill mode we slept in, snorkeled dive spots to survey and filled tanks. Tomorrow early(ish) it's up Mt. Pindito then, once sun is high, diving the best spots.

Wednesday

In retrospect hollering "duck" rather than "watch out" might have been better, but fortunately Jan didn't look up as a jagged limestone rock I had displaced ricocheted off ball cap poorly protecting her head during climb of very steep Mt. Pindito. Only time I was above her on the entire climb checking out indeterminate route. Getting down wounded looked to be less fun than one might imagine. Cleaned up her and the cap (use cold water and a brush on blood) and administered neosporin and ice pack. She will live and can expect to have a full and meaningful life in the future (scar won't show once hair grows back), but episode put an end to diving for awhile so new plans pend.

Jack