Happy Swiss Independence Day

Along with many other restrictions during pregnancy, I had to give up scuba diving. I didn't mind for awhile as I was avoiding the ocean anyways. Many pregnant women develop strange aversions, often of certain foods, but not me... I ended up with a beach aversion! I hated the sun, the sand, the salt. Not a good thing when one lives on an island, but by the time Ona was born I was really missing it.

I was plotting to go scuba diving 5 or 6 weeks postpartum while my mother-in-law was here and willing to babysit. Because of the c-section I ended up having to wait a lot longer to get back in the water. One day my friend Markus asked me when I would be diving again so I arbitrarily responded with August 1st. Being Swiss, he told me that August 1 happened to be Swiss Independence Day so it was decided that we would celebrate his heritage and go for a dive that day.

It was a beautiful day and Markus and I headed for the usual dive spot of Faga'alu. Although not the best dive on the island, it is close to home and work and an easy shore entry. Especially after the good diving in the Manu'a Islands last year, I had grown tired of this less than stellar dive site. It's amazing how a year-long diving hiatus changes your perspective! Markus and I got into the water and I was amazed by everything I saw! The visibility didn't even seem that bad as it often does on this dive in the outer harbor area. I saw several anemones with clownfish. Clownfish are very territorial and it is amusing to watch them defend their home. Several of the anemones had little clownfish families on them, complete with tiny babies. Maybe I just have babies on the brain, but it was quite adorable.We don't always see many schools of fish here so I was very excited when a school of about 50 or 60 moorish idols and schooling bannerfish swam around me. Towards the end of the dive, a hawksbill turtle swam by! Anytime I see a sea turtle I am thrilled.I'm sure it had a lot to do with the fact that I haven't dove in so long, but this dive seemed very magical to me! Carol and I are going on another dive already tomorrow.