1 September Diving

Three weeks ago we began diving with Eco Dive. Very conveniently for us they keep their two dive boats on our dock. There are other companies, equally good we could have chosen, and with so few tourists on island there is space for all.

We chose Eco Dive who are based at a hotel on Grand Anse beach for the convenience, their flexibility and the quality of their dive boat which has the best steps I've ever seen and the best steps ever used. We love Albert the boat driver and are impressed with all the staff.

What we've been doing is joining a morning two tank trip a couple of mornings a week. David sets up our kit and then we cross the dock and load it on to the dive boat. Out for a couple of one hour dives and back home in time for lunch. It doesn't get much easier.

I'll name the sites we did as much for my memory as for your information.

1. Check out dive at Flamingo Bay – a shallow reef with plenty of soft corals

2. Dragon Bay – another reef close to Flamingo Bay

3. Happy Valley

4. MV Buccaneer then Moliniere reef – a sloop lying on her side

5. Purple rain – a drift dive with soft corals, barrel sponges and a visit from the biggest eagle rays we've ever seen, as big as a manta

6. MV Tyrell Bay – a decommissioned Coastguard cutter sunk to be dived

7. Northern Exposure reef

8. MV Veronica L – a cargo ship which is festooned with soft coral and home to many fishes

9. MV Shakem – was a cement carrying ship which caught fire and sank in 2001. It's a big wreck sitting at 30m with plenty to see and explore.

10. Northern Exposure reef

This is where our diving programme was rudely interrupted by a wide outbreak of Covid-19 bringing restrictions on movement. Once the outbreak is brought under control we hope to resume our underwater exploration. The water is 21C, mostly very good visibility and with very little current it's easy, relaxing stuff.