Dolphins, ghosts and facehuggers - wow!

Greetings fellow snorkellers!

First post on my new (2nd hand) laptop. With barely enough horsepower to run Windows XP, and less RAM than most desktop calculators, it is still serving me well by letting me do the most essential computing tasks -- post to my blog, check Facebook, watch stupid but entertaining YouTube clips (Bert & Ernie try gangsta rap ) and most importantly -- play Minecraft.

Anyway, back to the snorkelling! I went with my sister this morning. Today was overcast, cool, and with a brisk easterly wind. I wasn't expecting a very good snorkel ... But the ocean has a way of surprising us.

Before even getting into the water, we saw a dolphin(s) splashing around out past the reef. As I observed it, I realized that dolphins are clearly not as intelligent as people think. While his family are probably in the Pacific somewhere getting chased down by Japenese whaling ships, and being served in sushi bars, this little guy was spending his time splashing around the West Australian coast. Completely unproductive, failing to provide for his/her offspring, and generally making a pain of himself. Why do dolphins seem to have so much free time on their hands? It's strange.

After hitting the water we headed straight out to the depths, leaving the kiddies and the breast-stroking grannies behind. The first thing I noticed was the water became about 5 degrees warmer. Also, it was clearer -- much clearer. There were fish everywhere. I mean, it was getting to the point where we couldn't swim for all the fish. Slightly annoying to be honest. I can't see why fish have so many babies -- from what I've seen this morning, the oceans are already overcrowded.

Aside from all the time-wasting dolphins and annoying fish, we did see a couple of other fascinating things today. The first was some bubbles, rising from the rocks about 15 feet below us. I thought it was a diver, and even thought I saw his air tank retreat under a rock. But no diver surfaced. Passing the spot again later, I noticed that the bubbles had decreased to a sporadic trickle. My theory here is that what we saw was some type of ghost -- a diver who had died, some years ago, and was now haunting the depths with his ghostly bubbles. It's the most plausible theory I can come up with. Unless dolphins release bubbles when they are underwater? If anybody has further info / suggestions, please leave a comment, because I'm scratching my head on this one people.

Also, there was jellyfish. They were swarming with obvious intelligence, gradually surrounding the high-energy source of protein that foolishly swam amongst them (that would be us). Why can't we invent some type of "pesticide" to spray into the ocean, that will eradicate this dangerous pest once and for all? There is simply no need to have them, floating about and stinging people.

Finally, on the way back in I came across a patch of clear sand, which was home to several dozen "sacks". They were about 5 inches long, attached to the sand by a small black spot, and waving freely in the current. I dived under to check them out closely, and saw that they were pulsing with life. Anybody who has seen the movie Alien, or it's superior sequel Aliens, will know what I'm talking about. It looked exactly like the eggs that facehuggers emerge from. Scary stuff, and again, amazing that I can snorkel the exact same beach 25 times, and still be finding new lifeforms and new civilizations, boldly going where no man has -- oh never mind.

Blog posts may be few and far between -- my waking hours are now divided between work and Minecraft, which is the single most addictive(*) and compelling game I've ever played. I think it just taps into the primitive part of our brains that says "hunt, gather and build". It's silly how fast this game eats up the hours.

Cheers all and stay safe out there!

-Gray

* - I maintain that the word "addicting" can't be used in this sentence. If you are one of those people who use "addicting", please slap yourself in the face for me. Thankyou.

Jellyfish attack!

Yesterday I snorkelled with my sister. I spotted what I thought was a big, flowery lump of coral or something, floating in the water. As I approached, I realised it was man's natural enemy -- the jellyfish. As wide as a dinner plate, this beast was pulsing confidently through the water, searching for small fish or mammals to feed on. Either it had evolved to look like coral, so it could hunt better -- or this was a particularly cunning jellyfish who was carrying around a chunk of coral and whistling casually. In the same way a cartoon character will hide inside a bush with just his feet sticking out the bottom, this jellyfish was using the camouflage to sneak up on people! Dastardly!

Being the seasoned snorkeller's that we are, we of course stayed a few meters away from this great beast. But before we could warn them, it had floated into the midst of three guys in full wetsuits and high-vis snorkelling gear! These clowns were obviously out for "a good time", and weren't aware of the dangers that lurk just below the surface. I watched with morbid fascination as the tentacles of the great fish brushed against the chest of one. His head was above the water! How could he be so unaware of the attack happening just inches below his face?! His friend noticed, and desperately warned him, and the trio made a quick escape. But if it wasn't for his thick wetsuit, this poor soul would have been quickly paralysed by the stinging tentacles, and sunk beneath the waves to drown. And eventually be consumed by the jellyfish.

A similar sort of thing happens on Ski slopes(*). At the start of the season, the locals will see groups of cashed-up morons walking around in $900 ski jackets, carrying $4,000 skis -- but none of it saves them from breaking their legs when they hit a tree. Gear doesn't make you safe -- experience does. Please try to remember this.

Also, my sister claims to have seen a school of "swordfish". I highly doubt this dubious sighting, which conveniently happened while I was out of the water. Swordfish have been extinct for over 50 years! But some people don't want to hear "facts"; more likely, she saw her own shadow cast against the sea bed.

Anyway, it goes to show you -- after 20+ trips to this beach, I am still seeing new and cruel dangers, just waiting to claim the unwary swimmer.

Stay alert out there!

-Gray

* Disclaimer: I have never been skiing. This article is purely conjecture on my part.