Zanzibar

After five action packed days in South Africa, from engagement ring to camping  and bike equipment shopping for the big trip and the off-road motorcycle course as well as spending (too little) time with our very generous friends and hosts Jana and Werner van der Berg, we were well ready for the next and last stage of our holiday. Zanzibar Island!

   We spent a full week recharging the batteries at Matemwe in the north-east of the Island. This particular part of the island is quite popular with divers due to the close proximity of Mnemba Island and it's 4 km large reef full with a stunning variety of colourful fish. 

  That and the fact that we won't get a perfect chance of such pleasant temperatures and ideal location any time soon again, made the decision to go for the PADI open water scuba diver certification pretty easy. Rory had no difficulties whatsoever - water is his element. Needless to say he is as much a bouncing ball under water as on the surface. He shall be referred to as the air guzzler from here on.

   But even I being more of a cat thrown into the water enjoyed the experience to the max. I've seen aquatic life with my own eyes I've only ever seen on TV before. Wonderful! We're quite proud of our certification. Not sure though if diving in Ireland would be as exciting. Somehow the prospect of the cold Atlantic ocean puts me off :) Lets see.

   It's off to Dar es Salaam on the mainland today by ferry and then early in the morning we're flying back to Ghana. The final preparation madness, Rory's bike fix and visa hunt is now only a couple days away. Stay tuned!

Karibu, welcome at Matemwe Lodge.

What a view over the Indian Ocean to wake up to every morning. Life is good!

Best spot in the house 

Hotel grounds

Great place to cool down while watching the ocean and small fishing boats go by.

Mnemba Island in the background. It is surrounded by an oval reef of 4 km.
This is where we did our PADI open water scuba diver certification.

Best spot for sipping cocktails and watching
the sun go down and the stars come out.

A typical fishing boat carved out of a single tree trunk without any power tools.

Literally bath tub warm water at low tide

The hotel supports a conservation project of the Green Sea Turtle. There are numerous sign posts indicating where, when and how many eggs were laid and when they are due to hatch.

We were privileged to watch how two baby turtles who had not hatched in time with their other brothers and sisters made it to the surface when one of the conservation project workers dug a hole to bury a new batch of eggs.

A new batch of Green Sea Turtle eggs ready to be buried in sand.
They look a bit like dented golf balls if you ask me.

Legends - both instinctively trying to head for the ocean but they had to be held back because the tide is too low and one of them had to see a marine vet first because of some apparent disabilities. 

The water from the beach is way too hot and would boil the poor things if left in there for too long. A rescue plan was made and off went Rory by Kajak to get cooler water further into the sea. Rory Green Sea Turtle Hero!

The healthy turtle was released later at high tide and the disabled turtle made it through the night and got to the marine centre in Nungwi in the north of Zanzibar. Let's hope he'll make it. 

This our group of fellow divers on our first open water dive. The guy leaning on a scuba tank is the very patient Jesse from Scubafish, our instructor.

Diving survived! :)