After a week moored off Boddham we moved down to Fouquet. For most of our time Chagos the weather was good, but we did have the occasional squall come through. (We anchored in two places on Ille Fouquet. 05*20.645S,072*15.484 in 15ft on sand. This end of the island had less swell making though the pass. Later we anchored at the larger sand area at 05*19.961S,072*15.87Ein 15 ft on sand)
Not all is easy going in Chagos. This is the wreckage of a large cruising catamaran. In the foreground is the tall mast laying in the clear water. Sometime, apparently after this wreck, BIOT started requiring Wreck Removal Insurance prior to issuing a permit to visit.
Red footed Boobies are everywhere on the islands.
While Chagos has experienced coal bleaching incidents similar to the Maldives, the general health of the reefs and abundance of coral seemed very good. It's really nice to be diving with such a variety of corals an coral colors. The water clarity was not crystal clear while we were there, but fine for our daily snorkel. Water temperature is perfectly legal in my book, we're guessing it was mid 80sF!
No shortage of Parrot fish.
Quite a garden
This is an 18-20 inch long Giant Clam shell. I remember watching some black and white movie as a kid where the hero got his arm stuck in a Giant Clam. Been leery of them ever since.
This is a live Giant Clam almost as big. It turns out Giant Clams aren't big threat to skin divers, as they are plankton eaters.
Add a little red to the coral colors
This coral colony is probably 10 or 12 feet wide.
Got my eye on you!
Turtles cruising by weren't too concerned about us.
A little closer view
A juvenile snapper of some sort.
Banner Fish enjoying their coral surroundings
The beginning of a nice forest
Tide pool starfish
Practicing taking selfies on the sandbar while shell hunting
Had to stop and investigate this large buoy washed up on the beach. Looks like it may have come from some Naval exercise down in Diego Garcia. Too big to take home as a souvenir, even though I think it would make great yard art.
There are Hermit Crabs almost everywhere to land in Chagos. They are the bane of shell hunters, as they claim all the good ones early.
This is a smaller Coconut Crab using a coconut shell as her home. The young Coconut Crabs use shells and coconuts for protection. The adults use claws.
Coconut Crab looking to me for protection.
Not sure why, but you sometimes see a party of Hermit Crabs up on the trees.
Met up with our old friend Wilson.
A nice shiny Cowrie shell.
When you walk around the islands the bird pass by at eye level for a look.
Grouper, checking us out
There's a lobster (crayfish) hiding under that coral shelf.
A close up of the crayfish.
Extra low tide on the ocean side of the island
Pre-sunset view
My beach toy. Notice the clean shaven model holding it.
Georgia at anchor. The light blue is about 15 feet deep and where our anchor is. The dark blue is about 50 feet deep where we came to rest. It is very convenient that they color code the water for us.
Boobies nesting with young, fluffy white nestling in the center.
Space alien eyes
This was a less than clear day snorkeling. Mark, this black-tip reef shark, decided to start circling us. He made at least three loops around us that we could see. Needless to say, Chris managed to keep the dinghy or me safely between her and Mark.
Check the length of this Unicorn Fish's horn
A little green coral to add to the seascape
These two pictures are hard to make out, but they are of an octopus hiding among the crevices in the coral.
It was a windy late afternoon and Mark and his friend stopped by to see if we had any shark treats to share.
The friend even wanted to show of his black tip.
The Noddies decided to take up residence on the bow pulpit.
All in all, Chagos is a pretty magical place. Glad we got the opportunity to stop by and add to the memories.
Paul
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