Manawanui Cruise--Day Two

Saturday morning was cool and cloudy. Nonetheless, we all donned the provided wetsuits, masks, and snorkels and prepared to go snorkeling. John and Jessie ferried us over in the dingy to a nearby rocky area. Over the side we all went. Even though the water was cool and the day cloudy, the snorkeling was wonderful. We saw lots of different vividly colored fish and several sting rays--even without prescription masks! We snorkeled in and around rocks alternating between deep and very shallow spots where you could reach out and touch the undulating kelp. At one point, John dove down and cut a sea urchin off a rock and handed it to me--several brightly striped wrasse fed from my hand. It was captivating. However, after about 30 minutes and even with the wetsuit, I was starting to feel very chilled. Into the dingy and back to the boat where we all took turns taking quick but hot showers. Even so, I had to fill my hot water bottle to warm up my purple feet!

By late morning the clouds cleared and the sun came out. We sailed and motored south towards Cape Brett and the locally famous Hole in the Rock.

After circling the hole (one of those things you have to have done, apparently) we headed along the coast looking for the night’s moorage. John pulled into a little cluster of islands, dropped anchor, and we all went kayaking. Jessie led us around the rocky shore to a series of little caves and then out to more open water. Felt great. Back on board, we relaxed and read and enjoyed the sunset before a fresh albacore tuna dinner.