Day 252: Turtle Whacks (07/10/2011)

The turtles circled the boat.

Nine of them bumped into each other as they foraged for the watermelon that the guide had surreptitiously dropped into the water when no one was looking.

One by one, we donned the masks and slipped silently into the water, hoping not to scare then off.

In ten metres of water they performed a slow dance, occasionally flapping their flippers and powering away in an effortless demonstration of evolutionary perfection.

We swam hard and occasionally caught up with them.  Invariably they turned toward us with the faces of old men. Snapping beaks and short sighted eyes make for finger nipping misunderstandings. Keeping our hands clear of their inquisitive mouths, we held our nerve as they bumped off us and scrapped past us on each revolution.

Small fish picked at the accumulations on their ancient shells.

Larger fish skirted their path or darted away as they performed slow turns in the turquoise water.

Swimming above them and below them, we had to surface for air as they seemed to surge forward without the slightest of effort.

We would have stayed in the water with them all day.

That is, but for the colony of Hammer Head Sharks that cruised the bottom, just a few metres below us.