Clean Air and Black Tip Sharks

Today was in technical terms a ‘down day’. Consisting of equipment preparation, checking, rechecking and scheming. The compressor problem was fixed and Rainer boosted our confidence by announcing “It SEEMS fine, ah hum hum, correction. It IS fine.” A huh! All the filters were replaced; the air was tested and passed with a clean bill of particle free.

Tom, Dan and myself spent the evening ankle, knee then chest deep surrounded by inquisitive black tips. They are much smaller than their cousins the black tip (Charcharhinus limbatus) but there is no comparison as to who of the two species has the most paint on their dorsal fin – the melanopterus wins hands down, with a distinct black tip, whereas the limbatus’ is virtually non-existent. As the water darkened a couple of large sicklefin sharks swam by, as their name suggests their skin above is a yellowish brown. The black tips ignored her, continuing to swim in front, behind and around me.

More on the mangroves, coral mushrooms and black tips, but before the story continues, I need sleep! (A line I fear you might read fairly often).