Back at the pool I rigged Niels up with the new mask and a snorkel. He was resistant to assistance, and went away from us wearing the mask and floaty-suit. I watched him over by the steps. He was experimenting with the snorkel. First he sat on the steps and put his face in, practiced breathing. Then he floated on his tummy holding onto the step. He did that 4-5 times, coming up and wiping his mouth each time, and letting his dad readjust the mask each time. He’d alternate from being alone, practicing, to instantly demanding my help with the mask or snorkel. Finally he repeated his stair exercise, but let go of the steps for a split second, then a second, then tried paddling backwards and then forwards back to the step. He was totally teaching himself. Was great to watch. Within an hour he was out away from the steps. Then swimming across the shallow end, then swimming across the 3meter-deep deep end. Wow. At that point wayan was afraid to swim across the deep end.
Maybe Niels wants to see the fishys too? “Yes!” So next day we get everyone ready, walk down the beach to where the wreck it. I take Wendy out, she is still scared to look over the edge of the hull. Lots of divers down there, so no big fish. I take wayan and Julia out. We swim the full length of the ship this time, but don’t see much new on the ship. On the way back though, while I’m waiting for wayan to clear his snorkel for the 27th time (holding onto me while I float), I see a brown cloud move across the rocks, then settle down into the rocks. After its gone I realize its an octopus. Cool. I wait by the rocks, sure enough out comes a tentacle, two big eyes blinking. Then it zooms across the rocks like a cloud, beautiful! When it reaches its choice rock it instantly changes its color and shape to match a barnacled rock. Cool! Not an octopus. Cuttlefish! When it swims back to its house its tenticles are bright blue. Wayan and I watch for a while, but the cuttlefish is wary of us and won’t come out. I try to remember where the cave is, and mark the spot on shore where I am.