We ducked into the secluded bay of Balantak Utara to avoid headwinds, and to save further wear on the yet-to-be-identified-rattling coming from the engine bay. So after provisioning with diesel and supplies, it was time to sail south towards counter-currents, headwinds and unruly waves.
But before all that excitement, we had time to slip in a few quick dives…
FIRST DIVE
Our first dive took us to a long reef we had sailed round the previous day. Being so open to the Molluca Sea, the bank is teeming with fish and covered in coral.
Andreas, owner of Tompotika dive school and PADI dive master, had warned us of currents, and as we jumped into a swirling whirlpool we assumed he knew what he was doing…
The flow was too strong for Jamie to take any macro photography, but the site was spectacular.
BETWEEN DIVES
As you probably know, after each dive you have to decompress, so the Tompotika dive school took us to an exclusive little haven surrounded by coconut plantations.
THIRD DIVE
This time there was no jumping into washing-machine currents, instead we walked from the beach to explore Tompotika’s house reef, less than 100m from Esper’s anchor!
Some time previously, the dive school at Tompotica had placed various objects underwater to encourage coral growth, an old bicycle was particularly popular with crinoids and small critters. It turned out that this was essentially a muck dive.
Even better, we were thrilled to come across some animals we’d never seen before.
If you are looking for total immersion in local life, with accommodation right on the beach, home-cooked food and diving in the middle of the Coral Triangle, look no further than Tompotika Dive Lodge. We would go back in a heartbeat. Click on the logo to go to the website where you can also read about the valuable conservation work Tompotika Dive Lodge is undertaking with the help of local communities.
We couldn’t put off sailing south any longer. But were we ready to leave and face whatever lay ahead?
For the full scoop, watch episode 329 on YouTube…
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