Today was our last full day on Bequia before we start the long multi-day journey home. We had nothing booked for today but had loosely agreed to go on the first morning dive with the dive shop. You need to have at least 12 to 18 hours of a ‘surface interval’ after diving before flying so our only option was really the first dive in the morning.
When we showed up, Max seemed genuinely happy to see us. I think he was concerned that I might not show up to get back on the horse again. I expressed my willingness to go if the conditions were right, but that I’d stay back in lieu of holding back the group. He insisted that I go and that we’d stay shallow.
So, all our gear was loaded aboard the boat and we took off with Max and Kirk. There were two others going on this dive but they were aboard a boat, so we picked them up on the way to the dive site.
We again went to Devils Table, which gets down to 60 feet or so, so it’s not exactly what I’d call either shallow or not deep. Max told the other two divers that I’d need a little extra time getting under the surface, but it was easier and less stressful this time. I think it must take about 2 dives to calm down about the whole breathing underwater bit.
Once we were under the surface, we started swimming against the current. Wow, that was different. Up until now, we’ve only done lazy, easy drift dives where you hardly need to kick to get to where you are going. I was ok and not panicking with the dive/equalization/not dying portion, but the fast-moving current was something else. I was in the back of the pack and struggling to keep up. I’d like to think I’m fairly strong, but three knee surgeries have a way of putting you in your place. That and I was the only female on the dive.
Besides the current and keeping up, I had no issues. One of the other dudes, however, was not fully expelling his air, so he was having buoyancy issues. I could see that Max kept signing to him to slow his breathing down and fully exhale, but he kept rising to the surface. Max, via hand signs, got his buddy and him to go to the surface, while Nathan and I stayed down below in the current. Easier said than done, but eventually, Max reappeared and we continued the dive.
At the end of the dive, we surfaced. This dive shop has been different in that they don’t lend you a dive computer for the dive. A little unsettling, but presumably Max kept us safe. I’m not sure what ‘normal’ is – a rental computer or not? Perhaps we need to ask the dive shop in Boulder about buying secondhand computers… Anyway this time we were down for 48 minutes with a max depth of 54 feet.
Back on land, we paid for all seven dives (they are so trusting!) and set off for Lower Bay beach. We set up our tent in the same spot and I jumped in the water. The water was much calmer than on Tuesday when we were here. Which is good, but also bad. Calm water is nice, but when it means no wind, ie bugs be bitin’, it’s no good. Not sure if related to the calm water, no wind thing, but there were also little jellyfish for our enjoyment today. WTF, I can’t win.
It started raining, which was fine for me since I was in the water, but Nathan was on land getting wet.
Then a gigantic catamaran beached itself right where I would be getting out and let like 50 people off onto our little beach! They paraded single file like ants, right past our tent and into the nearest restaurant.
Crap. We’d need to wait at least 30 minutes for the restaurant to help all of them before we could get lunch. We waited a bit, but the restaurant was like a black hole from which no tourist ever escaped. After a while we wandered over there and all the boat passengers were eating inside from a buffet. So we saddled up to the bar and asked if they could accommodate us. Of course!
We each got the fried red snapper with fries. With a beer for Nathan and rum punch for me. The meal came out pretty quick, and as a bonus side, we got breadfruit pie, which is like potatoes au gratin. The lady helping us even brought out a whole breadfruit for us to look at.
After lunch, we left our stuff on the beach and snorkeled together. We saw two octopuses, some nice coral, some water caterpillar things, and lots of fish. The coral in this particular spot is quite interesting, but it mainly attracts small fish.
When we were done snorkeling, we just waded and drifted in the shallow sandy area. Nathan started putting rocks on me, maybe to see at what point I would sink. I didn’t sink, just floated there for an eternity while he took photos.
By late afternoon it was time to pack up and head back home. We have a bunch of packing to do and we need to leave some of this beach stuff out to dry overnight.
