Diving events this week have been overshadowed by the sad passing of Jutta Jackson, yesterday afternoon as I write. Although not a diver, she was very much part of the club, maintaining the web site and joining us Tuesday nights and post-dives round the pool and on dhow trips. For the last twelve months she has known very well what the future held but she faced this with the same quiet fortitude that she seemed to approach life generally. She will be greatly missed and our thoughts are with Peter, Oliver and Karsten.
The diving goes on of course. Last Friday we made another attempt to get to the Neptune and Mike’s Tug and just like last week we were defeated by the sea state. There was supposed to be 1 – 2ft off-shore and there may well have been but this was on top of a big swell and the result was very slow progress. Deciding against the Taha for a third week running, we diverted to Karen’s dhow and spent an enjoyable 40 minutes swimming with the baby barracuda and the snappers as well as the smaller inhabitants of the wreck. The turtle was unfortunately absent but we came back with a bit more glassware.
For the second dive we went to the Bigprop dhow, 2½ km away. Now that the bigprop is really a noprop it’s not quite so compelling but on its day it can still be a good dive. On Friday the viz was not great and the fish life not especially exciting. After about 25 minutes Mike and I noticed the string line to the anchor had gone taut, indicating that the anchor had dragged and was walking away. At this point we headed back to the boat.
The diving goes on of course. Last Friday we made another attempt to get to the Neptune and Mike’s Tug and just like last week we were defeated by the sea state. There was supposed to be 1 – 2ft off-shore and there may well have been but this was on top of a big swell and the result was very slow progress. Deciding against the Taha for a third week running, we diverted to Karen’s dhow and spent an enjoyable 40 minutes swimming with the baby barracuda and the snappers as well as the smaller inhabitants of the wreck. The turtle was unfortunately absent but we came back with a bit more glassware.
For the second dive we went to the Bigprop dhow, 2½ km away. Now that the bigprop is really a noprop it’s not quite so compelling but on its day it can still be a good dive. On Friday the viz was not great and the fish life not especially exciting. After about 25 minutes Mike and I noticed the string line to the anchor had gone taut, indicating that the anchor had dragged and was walking away. At this point we headed back to the boat.
Jutta last year on her 60th birthday, fulfilling a lifelong wish to see whales (a Sothern Right at Walker Bay, the Cape)