Arrival to our Coral Atoll
28 June 2013 | Tubbataha
J&D
Arrival, Ranger registration Tubbataha
Contacted the rangers once we settled in, had them visit 30 minutes later to do our checks. Needed to see our permit and the copy for them, took photos of our fishing gear, holding tank (portapoti) gave us a warm welcome and a run down of the park rules and very happy for us to visit them and purchase souvenir tee shirts...Dawn wanted there "Ranger" tee shirt, but that style was not for sale. Got settled, went for a snorkel, towed the dinghy as no anchoring, saw a nice white tip reef shark 5ft, Maori ras, crays, trout and big schools of small snapper, visability was a bit poor as tide had changed... going out. Best to dive before the high. Roast chicken, potatoes and salad for dinner, lovely.
Day 2
Great nights sleep, both a little fatigued from big days snorkelling, good not to have to worry about thieves. Up early as other dive boats out early, small live aboard ship called Vasco which is moored near by and doing drift dives off Amos rock. Planned a shallow dive under the boat on high tide as strong current before and after. Dawns tank valve seized, sprayed and hope we can free it tomorrow.
Day 3 &4
0930 in the water as it appeared to stop running, tried swimming to the mooring line, both exhausted before we got there, Dawn experienced shortness of breath at 10 meters so aborted the dive. Jamie went back down later on his own for a 30 bottom time max depth 20 meters on the edge. We bought a float line on a reel so we could tow it, not the best against the current, will go with the flow next time. Dawn feeling like she maybe in for the flu, lets hope not. Weather for the next 6 days is light winds max 5 knots. Visited the ranger station met all the team 6 in all they are a mix of TMO staff, Navy and Coast Guard, lovely guys, bought 2tee shirts, had coffee and got copies of all the mooring waypoints. Stopped at the dive boat, Vasco on the way back and were invited on board for a look see, very nice setup. Going back to sandcay at station for sundowners with the guests from Vasco, should be interesting.
We moved 2 moorings down closer to the ranger station channel to South park mooring, then had team of them do a dive near us got to say hi, seem like a good mix of nationalities.
Great sundowner with all off Vasco on sandcay...great to be on terrefurma after those first few days getting here. Had a great dinghy run back to the boat in the dark. The flu has hit Dawn, so out with the cold & flu tablets and some throat lozenges.