Shore Bound for the Day

Up when Aldabra’s coconut crabs were still roaming in the hour before dawn we were all ready and rearing to go this morning for a full day’s diving, but those tricky tides fooled us and we were half an hour too late to get over the reef. Some of us sat patiently on the beach waiting for the sun to light the water and splash some colour on the grey heron fishing along the shore and the dainty crab plovers mingling with the shark fins. Most of the team spent the rest of the morning doing more scheming and discussing the dive scenarios for the week.

Later in the day James volunteered as shark caller and for almost four hours splashed the water from the rocks above with a mackerel baited bag, just enough to gather all the black tips into the small bay where we were photographing. The sicklefin lemon sharks are finally relaxing a little and not being as timid as the first couple of days, making it possible to catch a couple of images.

As if the tide against us wasn’t enough – again are plans for an afternoon of diving were thwarted when the boatman, Steven, informed us that the boat was broken! … and Dan had a “good feeling” yesterday about today!!! Luckily, whatever was broken was fixed by sundown and we will be heading out first thing tomorrow morning.