A perfect dive, a feeling after most dives, right? But hey, this time I had 20/20 vision! I bet you’ve not had a dive with so many highlights, some starting on land already. While packing our gear bags I thought I would irritate my dive buddy, an instructor at the Dive Centre, who has been a dive leader on one of my dives, but not my buddy. So I take out my “communication shaker”, warning him that I will not be ignored underwater as I own what is known in most diving circles as the most irritating dive accessory. He looked at me and without any change in his facial expression walked over to his gear bag and took out his shaker! Snap! He was clearly not intimidated by me at all!

We were ready to proceed to the jetty with the gear. As I have a weak left leg and balance issues, I had my walking stick and was assisted by the Dive Centre owner across the sand to the jetty. Two divers joining the dive walked on my left slightly behind us. I was chatting away with the owner when he interrupted me midsentence, looking towards them saying, “Don’t worry guys, she grows a tail when she hits the water.” I’ve been wondering what their facial expressions were to prompt this comment, but it has been one of the nicest things ever said about me!

On this high of my mermaid identity, I could not tear my gaze away from the shallow reef as we cruised very slowly past it until the depth allowed us to pick up speed and race towards the breakers and the open sea. My biggest thrill is descending above a large, healthy, diverse and happy selection of corals. Pt Wahoo did not disappoint with visibility 20 meters. We descended to 20 meters and there was enough sunlight to light up the coral as we passed the extraordinary shapes and coral surface textures.  

We were leading the dive and there was nothing to distract me from the action of this ecosystem. There was a vast number of parrotfish in their mermaid or more blue colours. I could also see marks on some of the coral where some nibbling was done. We were moving slow enough for me to notice more detail than usual. My happy Moorish Idols were present and a school of Batfish amazed me in their individual size and relaxed attitude towards us. Some Giant Clams with frilly edged shells showed off their bright colourful inner mantles. Angel fish, comical Long Nose Butterfly fish in bright yellow and a blue starfish.

There was an ease of communication with my new buddy, pointing out treasures to each other and moving closer to negotiate a lava arch as not to touch it. I even remembered the hand sign for Nudibranch and I had scarcely signed to my buddy to look out for one when I noticed one between some rocks, thrilling me as these sea slugs are tiny and can so easily be missed!  There were very few sandy patches to practice bubble rings, but we found one and I had the pleasure of watching the rings grow as they ascended. I was afraid of touching the sensitive surrounding corals and did not start practicing my own bubble rings. There is a time for everything.

During our pre-dive briefing I mentioned that I was hoping to have my second sighting of a Clown Triggerfish, the most beautiful fish seen by me to date. The clown eluded us and I accepted that there was not one around. As we started to prepare for our ascent to our safety stop, at the very furthest point of our visibility, where the water started to look hazy, I noticed a single Clown Triggerfish! I was ecstatic and pointed it out to my buddy who responded signing applause. Applause worthy indeed! I was ecstatic and happy to start our ascent as I was desperate to start talking!

Thank you @scubaworlddivingmauritius for the experience.

By Lynette Gerber-Lochenkov