Peponi run dhow trips for snorkelling and to have lunch on a sand island that disappears with the tide - we joined Hamish & Akbar who have just qualified in UK and are travelling before taking up new jobs and Shaun from California who's doing some conservation project work in the Usambaras. Oh, and somehow Poppy came too.....
We sailed out to an area good for snorkelling - it was fun to snorkel again, but I suspect that Sue & I have been spoiled by having swum on some better reefs. There were black sea-urchins, a few sea-stars and what appeared to be crown-of-thorns - maybe that's why the coral isn't looking too good. At some point Poppy joined in the fun - but then seemed to decide that she was swimming back home - I'm not sure who caught her as she got exhausted, but there was a bit of a relay to take her back to the dhow!
Onto a gorgeous sandbar - maybe 300m long by 100m wide when we waded ashore - pure white sand, crystal clear blue waters with waves breaking in white on the beach. The crew erected a sunshade, we had lunch and snorkelled around the island letting the current take us. In the meantime Poppy enjoyed herself chasing terns and digging up yet more crabs.
Soon the island was visibly disappearing, so time to sail back to Peponi - the crew had to work to beat into the wind and against the current, waves were spraying over the deck, it was surprising what a good turn of speed these boats can make.
Later when the day had cooled a bit we walked to the village with Shaun and Mike (another American staying with his family) hoping to see the wedding that had been pumping loud music out for the last 24 hours - seems we were too late.Sundowners at the beach bar with the others before dinner "al fresco".
We sailed out to an area good for snorkelling - it was fun to snorkel again, but I suspect that Sue & I have been spoiled by having swum on some better reefs. There were black sea-urchins, a few sea-stars and what appeared to be crown-of-thorns - maybe that's why the coral isn't looking too good. At some point Poppy joined in the fun - but then seemed to decide that she was swimming back home - I'm not sure who caught her as she got exhausted, but there was a bit of a relay to take her back to the dhow!
Onto a gorgeous sandbar - maybe 300m long by 100m wide when we waded ashore - pure white sand, crystal clear blue waters with waves breaking in white on the beach. The crew erected a sunshade, we had lunch and snorkelled around the island letting the current take us. In the meantime Poppy enjoyed herself chasing terns and digging up yet more crabs.
Soon the island was visibly disappearing, so time to sail back to Peponi - the crew had to work to beat into the wind and against the current, waves were spraying over the deck, it was surprising what a good turn of speed these boats can make.
Later when the day had cooled a bit we walked to the village with Shaun and Mike (another American staying with his family) hoping to see the wedding that had been pumping loud music out for the last 24 hours - seems we were too late.Sundowners at the beach bar with the others before dinner "al fresco".