May 30, 2024
Ship Update
When we arrived in Belfast the night of the 28th, there was a residents meeting with owners. That afternoon they had just had the DCN inspection on board and we did not pass the inspection in the water processing system of the ship, due to corrosion beyond the limits in a small, but tough area to gain access. This repair is going to cost us 4 days more in dry dock to get cut out and reinstalled. The hope is that work will be completed and we with have our occupancy certificate for a June 4th boarding. Then they hope to set sail somewhere between the 5 to 7th once everything and one is aboard and approved. We will then join the itinerary wherever it falls, most likely Paris first. Sadly, for Edel this means no sailing vacation! She has been a great sport enjoying our day trips around Ireland and it has been great having the time to catch up with her. She will definitely be picking a future port to get on.
Photo above show shipyard of Harland & Wolff and you can see our ship to left of high rise in the back - all white - she is a beauty!
So new plan in this adventure has us driving out of Belfast this morning and we are headed to Bray in Wicklow County, below Dublin, to explore the area and try some new thrills! Stay tuned.
I was so excited to do my first night dive at Eco Cove Resort . It was a gorgeous night and we went into the water off the Resort jetty around 7pm. Each diver has a flash light / torch. It is a whole new experience in the water after dark, tons of activity from things that are generally hidden or sleeping during the day. I had no idea that lobsters dart / swim quickly thru the water, like an octopus - I thought they only crawled like a crab! We saw a two foot lobster, fly by right away. Lion fish were plentiful, floating in from all directions!
Raja Ampat is amazing - everytime I dive or even snorkel I see so many new fish or coral. The landscapes below water is so varied - walls, reefs, ridges, rims or plateaus and teaming with wildlife - it makes the Great Barrier Reef of Australia just so-so! Before each dive we get a briefing on the boat of the landscape, best approach and highlights typically seen in area.
Meal time is social time too! Our group occupies one long 10 seater - our 8 plus other Resort guest we have bonded with over the days. Drinks usually are a precusor to dinner, right after our daily dive / snorkel briefing 6:30 pm. Very few meals have been duplicated over our 2 week stay. The staff loves to make things fun, they always have big smiles and music for all to enjoy!