TURTLE RESCUE

 

 

Pic courtesy of Gary S/v Sea Turtle

Pic courtesy of Gary S/v Sea Turtle

Pic courtesy of  Hendo

The sea of Cortez has a huge amount of marine life including one of my favourites, turtles. 

Sailing home after having been out at the Islands, we cruised past a green sea turtle that was sitting on the surface, wrapped in something.

We turned the boat around and as we scooted back past, I stood on the step, and leaned into the water trying to free her. At this point we realised she was badly caught in a plastic woven sack. She was breathing, but severely gasping for air.

We put the kayak in the water and I went on over to see how I could help. She had strands from the bag tangled around her neck and front flipper, binding them together. 

She looked sad. I was a tad nervous that she might try and eat me or that I would hurt her, but she was incredibly passive. Using some pliers I cut the strands from her flipper and then from around her neck. Instantly her breathing changed. I thought that she might take off straight away, but she was exhausted from the mornings battle. She let me pat her and we hung out until she got up enough speed to go on her own way.

Unlike any other turtle I have seen before she had a pink flower on her head. She was beautiful. When we found her she was so vulnerable and yet had an abundance of smaller sea life using her for food and protection. A little ecosystem of her own.

There was warm fuzzy's all round and from then on in the the town, I was known as Aimee Wildlife Warrior (I made the last bit up)

 

 

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SEA RESCUE

 

 

 

This recent trip to Gili T was to do my Sea Rescue dive course. I got there earlier because of my job change and went up to the dive shop where I have previously stayed. The dive shop section seemed to be closed and the accommodation empty. I stayed however for two nights until they kicked me out because they ran out of water. Luckily I ran into the dive instructor the night before - she was on leave but was due to be back to work in a couple of days.

 

I was a tiny bit down and out, I didn't instantly fall back in love with Gili and I was worried my re-visit was going to be a fail. I felt a little sad and disillusioned that the place I had loved so much the previous time didn't feel the same. We worked out that I could start the theory of my course on the Thursday and start the pool/shore dives on Friday and so was keen to give it a go. I decided to go live it up in a hotel in Senggigi, Lombok for a night at a nice hotel and just chill. Turned out to be a beautiful spot and I met some cool people.

 

After my hotel stay I went back to Gili and it just slipped back into the same awesomeness. I instantly met people, ate some delicious satay and the Gili love was back.

Sea Rescue course was another story though, somehow with a lot of things I do, I don't really pay attention to the reality of what is actually required and get lost in the excitement of the concept. This was one of those things. My instructor was awesome and super patient but I didn't really love the course, didn't really have lots of fun pretending to save drowning people... wasn't really my cup of tea. BUT... Its something great to know, especially with my goals of diving and boating. here's to hoping I never have to use it!

 

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