Sunday, February 12, 2006

Swains Island

11 05S x 171 04W Due to weather considerations around Tutuila, we decided to steam 200 miles north to Swains Island in the hope of better weather. Our hopes have been rewarded and we have seen sun for the first time in a week.

Swains is INCREDIBLE!!!!!!! The best visibility we have had so far. It is INCREDIBLE!!! Did I say that? The island itself is about 8 miles in circumference, is ringed in white sand, and is almost completely covered with coconut palms. An idyllic South Pacific tropical paradise!!! The current population of the island ... 5!

Underwater was just as amazing! We are at the end of 200 foot tow lines and 60 feet underwater and I could see the propellers on the towboat!!! Visibity was near 175 feet!!! Not a whole lot of big fish aside from a school of about 1000 rainbow runners, 100 barracuda, and 4 huge Napoleon wrasse! Coral cover was very high and numerous schools of smaller fish made the dive memorable to say the least. That and the fact that, now being in the southern summer, water temperatures have jumped to 84 degrees. It's nice not having to wear 2 wetsuits just to stay warm :-)

Well, that's all for now. Stay tuned...