snorkeling

--- i actually apologise in advance, looking back these first few entries are probably pretty boring but i guess it's only natural that the first week or so here is full of new things and therefore a lot of describing, i just want to remember my first impressions really well (: i'm sure that as time will pass i'll become more concise and it won't be as big an essay to read!!! ----

i'll say it once more - i'm in paradise. we spent the morning running errands and then went onwards to Diani beach for the day. after being shown around the areas we'll be frequenting the most, we were dropped off at the water sports center we'll be going to for weekend activities. jumping off the bus i'm literally breath-taken.. i start running and ripping my camera bag out of my backpack simultaneously, dying to start snapping away at what lies before my eyes. there is white sand stretching as far as the eye can see, a huge expanse of blue sky with fluffy white clouds and then the ocean.. a mirriad of blues melding into turquoises and aquamarines; the sand banks flowing into coral and seaweed creating a patchwork of light and dark across the horizon. there are local children playing on the shore and a few fishing boats dotting the landscape.. the sun is high and bright, the coconut trees blowing in the wind. i think everyone's reaction to the beauty of it is pretty much unanimous.

 welcome to Diani Beach

beach bar

 matt stocking up on water, surprisingly enough!!

we're taken out on two glass-bottomed boats for a snorkeling trip. our skipper asks if anyone would like to sit on the roof and i of course jump right up (: perched up there clutching onto my camera for dear life, the coast seems to stretch on even further and the sun is heavenly on my bare shoulders. during the trip out to the sand bank the skipper sits next to me and we both chat in french - he's had to learn for tourists and seems keen to keep practicing.. the clouds keep changing and there's rain coming soon but it's so nice and warm we really don't mind.. after a few local jokes about 'mushroom coral', 'potato coral' and 'elephant fish' (the captain feeding the fish underwater) we continue en route to this beautiful sand bank. on the other side waves are breaking and i assume its the barrier between the shallow water and the open ocean.. as soon as we step out onto the sand four men appear out of nowhere trying to sell us starfish and bracelets.. that's something that's gonna take a while getting used to, everyone wants money from tourists.. after politely declining and walking off to take a few snaps, i put on my mask and flippers and jump in.

 glass-bottomed boat aka "dvd screen"

the water is so warm and the bread the captain threw in the water has attracted so many fish. after laughing at them literally swimming between my toes and sliding all over us, i distance myself a little from the group/boat to see if i can spot any other types of fish. there isn't a whole lot to see at first but keeping my eyes peeled and swimming quite slowly i end up spotting a few.. beautifully coloured starfish, these funny really thin long fish, a pufferfish, one or two angel fish and even two big multicoloured parrot fish that to my dismay swim away as soon as they spot me. i wish i'd gotten a photo to show you all!! the further along i go the more i realise how hard it is to take snapshots of fish :p they're pretty shy and by the time my underwater camera focuses they've already spun around or started swimming off.. i think the highlight of my snorkel was coming across a lion fish that i nearly swam right past. it was daunting as i was worried i'd accidentally get swept into it but watching him swim around was just awesome. hopefully the photo turns out ok. thankfully i hear the motor of our boat turning on and looked up only to see everyone already seated and ready to go - i had to power-swim all the way there and jump on.