Pemba, Cabo Delgado, Mozambique
Friday, August 12, 2011
Hey everyone today has been very exciting and full of amazing experiences. It is our only full day at the
Pemba Dive and Bush Camp so we decided to go on a snorking tour at the other side of the island. Apparently this time of year was perfect for spotting whales and dolphins and I guess we lucked out because we got to see them both... And up real close. My family and another couple from Belgium were the only passengers other then the driver on the small transport boat. We started off at the beach and made our way across the bay. After about 20 minutes we spotted our first school of dolphins! Our drive circled around to get right in front of the direction the dolphins were headed and then told us all to jump in with our snorkel gear. It was awesome, they swam right under us and for a while we swam with their pace until they lead us right into something like a wall of hundreds of stinging jelly fish. Ouch. Most of us managed to get out unscathed, hurrying into the boat. Unfourtunately, my Dad and the Belgium lady got themselves surrounded by the jellies so we had to drive over to them so they wouldnt get stung
. It was funny watching them squirm into the boat real fast when we got to them, as if a shark was coming for them. I can't say I wasn't speedy getting into the boat myself, but I can say that I was the first into the boat after one jelly leading to two.. then three... then three hundred. We got our experience of swimming with wild doplphins and the next time we spotted a scool nearby everyone was much slower getting in the water. Me being so wise as I am, waited until someone else got into the waters to ensure there were not evil jellies lurking beneath the water. Nevertheless, the experience was amazing as you will see from our pictures. We were fortunate enough to spot a hump back whale right after about 50 metres from our little boat, but it went back under right after surfacing. We waited for about 10 minutes in silence and were about to give up when a loud blast of water sounded from behind us. The whale must have swam under our boat because it was on the opposite side we had first seen, but it was so cool to se it so close now. It surfaced a few times and then went back under which gave our boat driver his queue to move on to the next snorkling region. He took us to a nice reef along the shores were we saw some cool starfish and angelfish. Next we went to a small shipreck that was only a few metres deep so I didnt even have to go in the water, I just leaned out the side of the boat with my mask and snorkel. That ends our fantastic african snorkling exprience, one of the best i've ever been on.
AFterwards, while we were waiting for our driver at the beach, a guy trying to sell his bracelets and neckalces and such tried to sell Stephen some of his wares. Stephen told him he had no money so sorry. But the persistent man offered Stephen two bracelets for his sun glaces. Again Stephen said no thanks, but then man was relentless and asked Stephen if he would trade his swim trunks for three bracelets. Instead of saying no, Stephen told the man that I was interested in buying some bracelets and somehow that worked like a charm cause the guy was immediately on his way over to me who was lying peacefully on the sand. Having a little nap. He woke me up and tried to sell his wares but I told him no but my dad was interested for sure and that got rid of him quickly too. My dad said no to the man several times until he finally realized he was defeated. The truck came to take us back and we got to enjoy a nice yellow finned tuna for dinner. That ends our 12 day here in africa and now we are headed to the safari.
Matt
Comments
Wow!!! What a day ..and excellent land and under the sea photos!!