Thursday 14 October Exploring Ofolango island

No one lives on Ofolango. It's a large island encircled by a reef with one opening on the south side providing good anchoring for up to 10 boats. We wanted to explore the reefs and check if it was worth a dive. Using our solar fish finder unit (a large plastic bucket with a clear perspex bottom) we scoped the edge of the reef and found a suitable spot, but when we came back with our dive gear conditions had changed, the visibility had dropped to less than 15m and a current surge made it an uncomfortable dive.

Tofua island at sunset

Visible from Ofolanga, Tofua island is where Captain Bligh was set adrfit from The Bounty with a handful of men in an 8m dinghy.  Using a sextant and his knowledge of the currents and winds Bligh navigated his small boat 4000nm in 40 days to reach safety inTimor.  He knew there were islands closer.  He didn't know if the natives of these closer islands would have them for dinner or invite them to dinner.   
By evening all the other boats had left and we had the anchorage to ourselves – the first time we have been alone since Las Perlas, Panama in March.