Dives at Gaahuru Kandu, Fushi Kandu, and Fatteyo Post retirement dives 822, 23, 24 February 15, 2025

Theia's schedule for February 15, 2025, below:

Here's some photos I took of various small Atolls we were passing as we moved from dive site to dive site. Below:

Our first dive, at Gaahuru Kandu, had a light current and excellent visibility, was very relaxed, with lots of fish. Below:

Above: A passing Tuna Below: A school of Bigeye Jacks

Yes, yes, I would say there was a plethora of fish. Below:

Below: White Tipped Reef Sharks and a Silvertip Shark

I was delighted to see several nice sized Four Saddle Grouper on this drift dive, below:

Batfish are known for their inquisitive nature, this one rose up to meet us as we descended toward the reef and was soon joined by others. Below:

A beautiful Emperor Angelfish, below:

Another Batfish welcomed me when I went in to explore a large cavern, above. A large Stingray was peacefully napping at the back of the cavern, below:

Below: Another posing Batfish followed by Anthias

Below: A Black Triggerfish, I see lots of them but they're not very cooperative photo subjects.

Below: Silvertip Reef Shark

Did I mention, because we were frequently hooking off on the reef quite deep (except for diving the wrecks in Truk Lagoon in 1993 I spent more time below 90 ft on this trip than in all my diving the previous 58 years, combined), you need to both monitor your remaining air (nitrox) and your no decompression time on your dive computer. On this dive I paired up with one of our group because I was getting low on air and he simultaneously discovered, upon checking his dive computer, that he had exceeded his no decompression limits. We watched from below as the rest of our group completed their safety stop and were picked up by Pelican, below:

What ensued was a 15 minute drift dive for the two of us as he decompressed. The end of the final dive of the day and I was very much anticipating a cold brew upon returning to the ship. Below: Bart decompressing, me hanging out on the surface above floating on my snorkel.