Started the day off like the rest; Bernie and Curtis loaded us onto the boat and we were off. We got to Hepps Pipeline and all started our descent. It was a very interesting and colorful dive because not only did we see the normal coral but we got to see the underside of it as we swam under it. I saw so many long and skinny trumpet fish as well as the normal black striped Sargent Majors and red with large eyed Squirrelfish. Bernie also introduced us to the black and white drum fish. The next dive was a little more interest.
Spanish Bay Reef brought us a little larger life than we had seen. During the dive I got the opportunity to see the large and long Barracuda hanging out above the coral. I also got to see a large Tarpon towards the drop off right next to us. I then got to see a lobster hiding in a hole in the coral and a few large and colorful rainbow parrot fish. Getting to see these large animals that most people do not get to see in their natural habitat was such an amazing experience.
One of my most favorite things I have ever done in my life was today and that was stingray city. It was so crazy how the southern Atlantic stingrays would just swim up to you like it was nothing. The stingrays were actually surprisingly calm and were not bothered by much at all. Touching them as they swam by was amazing, and I even got to see a baby stingray. As everyone started to ascend to the top, a few more came back and I got to hangout and touch 3 at 15 feet for another few minutes. On the boat ride back I then had a really long and good conversation with our dive master Bernie about diving, New Zealand, and just life in general. He is a really cool guy and also an amazing guide.
I am super excited for the Kitiwake ship wreck dive and am sad to say we’re beginning the count down to our final dives of the trip.
