Year Two
Date: 5/7/2009 18:00
Weather: Perfect the next
Location: Kenutu Island (18 41.93' S, 173 55.72' W)
Author: Peter.

Kylie swimming in swallows cave...Peter is becoming a great photographer! How blue is this water!!

Over the past few days we have been out visiting a few underwater caves. We joined the crew from Twin Image and headed back to Swallows Cave, this time with a torch. The cave extends alot further than we first thought. Getting out of the dinghy and scrambling across the rocks you enter a large cavern where we could easily see a large group of Tongans having a great feast (in the past they actually did this). What a pity someone had ruined the space a little by using it as a rubbish dump. Looking back down towards the water however it is still worth the walk up into the back of the cave.

Looking back downinto the cave from the feast area

As the sun was shinning we then all dropped into the water inside the cave, which is so clear by the way and there is no way I can describe how good it was. The photo soon to be posted below of the entrance does not do it justice.

The entrance to swallows cave

We then made our way over to Mariners cave. How someone discovered this is a mystery to me. The entrance to the cave is under water, about 1.5m down followed by a 2m swim into the cave. I went through first towing a floating yellow line to help the others behind to find their way. Mariners Cave is very dark cave when you first swim in, the only light source being the swim through, this makes it a very daunting exercise for some. Taking a hug breath and swimming into the unknown, knowing you can't turn back half way. I made my way back out and gave the all clear to everyone else. Ritchie then followed me in the second time before we both came out to convince the girls to follow us in. Kylie after some self psyching and a few practise swims outside followed us both in and we swam up to the back of the cave where we sat on the rock shelf to watch the show. As the surge flowed out a thick fog instantly formed in the cave under vacuum (right dad?) and as the surge then came back in it again instantly cleared. It was just bizarre to watch as it came and went. We all then swam back out, Kylie and Ritchie then managed to convince Megan she could do it. Pity we could not convince Bronwyn. After swapping some of Kylie's gear to Megan she then follow me with Richie close astern back in to see the show. We have some great movie footage of the entrance and exit!

In the fast duck, heading back from the caves

The following morning with the crew from Twin Image we went to another large cave around the corner from swallows. After tying up their duck just outside the cave we all swam in the entrance to another limestone wonder. Off to one side inside the cave was a much smaller swim through (only about 1.5m under water) that opened up into another small cave lit up only by a hole in the ceiling and the light shining through the underwater entrance.

Underwater swim through


Tanya and Dudley

The day finished on a high on board Jura as we had 10 guests aboard (Twin Image, Biakle, and Aorere) for a night of pizza and tall tales. This is the life.

We have now moved off to a quieter anchorage on the eastern side of the Vavau Group.

Apparently it was noted at the yacht club that we were missing from Friday nights race. Why this is the case we are not sure, but we are apparently listed as DNS. We think the top two boats would like a run against us.

We met a boat all the way from Lithuania! The first people to say our boat name correctly and to understand what it means!!!


Andrew and daughter Rasa with us aboard their boat


Peter posing


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