If
we could have found somewhere better than a publicly shared mooring
ball to raft up Jackster we would have stayed and dived more in
Binongko but rafting alongside a wooden fishing boat with low
freeboard and the too likely possibility of damaged our hull, new
visitors stomping on the decks and peering in at 7am was not
conducive to staying longer. Our alternative anchorage was 10
miles away inside an inaccurately charted atoll, Tokoboa atoll.
However, there was a good reason for going.
 |
| fishing house on the reef |
The
dive master at Tomia resort told us a blue whale was resident in the
channel entrance into the lagoon, lying there with his mouth open as
the current pushed krill into his open mouth. He'd been there to
film it; 22m long and 6m wide but very shy of anything in the water
with him. The chance to see the biggest animal on the planet
deserved a look see in case it was still there. Alas there was no
whale today but it was a peaceful afternoon and overnight stop. To
navigate safely through the dog leg pass in the reef David climbed up
the mast to the first spreaders with a two way radio and his video
camera (for whale shooting) and I was on helm following directions –
straight ahead, go left 10° - watching the depth and marvelling at
our speed as the rising tide swept us in. Who needs roller coaster
rides when you can shoot a channel with eddies and up wellings?
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