Diving the Indian ocean with Big Blu

Started at 5 30 am had to catch a motorbike or tuk tuk to utende for the dive. Arranged a ride with a nice local I had me the day before. 10000 tsh. Another 30000 for the park entry fee and made it well on time. I was greeted by the dive master. Mattia a 28 year old dive instructor who works there with Mario. Both from italy. We geared up then relaxed as the team stocked the boats. 2 dives $70 is a good deal to. The water was calm and clear. My other diving companions were three Italians traveling together. Good thing the Italians speak with their hands I pretty much understood what mattia was saying to them. Our dive started with a positive event. The skipper spotted a sea turtle caught in a net. We turned the boat around and Mattia grabbed his knife and tried to free it from the net.





Cutting the turtle out of the net





Mattia Saves the turtle.

It was slack tide so the dive was a breeze. The water was warm and bright blue. We could see well over 80 feet. The coral was bright and full of life. On both dives we saw parrot fish, lion fish, and I guess we saw some large groupers but I did not see them. On the 2nd dive we were joined by a nice dutch guy who it turns out speaks a fair bit of Italian. We chatted about diving and because of him I did not miss seeing a lovely and large manta ray to our right by a coral shelf.

It was cautious but interested in us as we were of it. After a short time it started to drift away into the deep blue.

All around a successful dive trip.

The people on this island are wonderful. The price is the price. No haggling, just a fair price. People like to practice there English and are happy to help me with my Swahili when I ask.





All geared up for a wonderful dive


Last day on the island. Glad for the change of pace.

Location:Utende beach , mafia island Tanzania