UKDIVING TRAVELSPECIAL
Having fun in Mr Bud wreck
a 60cm long body, a lack of rigid skeleton allows the octopus to fit through the tiniest of gaps. If its 1cm parrot-like beak can fit through a nook, the rest of the animal can follow.
Luckily my team is experienced, and between us we work the situation. My buddy Alexis Kyman leaves her torch on and everyone else hides their beams. We wait patiently. In this low light our octopus regains her confidence, gingerly poking her head back out the reef, before emerging in all her glory. For half an hour we stay with our new friend as she hunts, poking her long suckered arm into reef crevices,
60 pushing out panicking crabs then trapping them under her flashing body while shaped as an‘ umbrella of death’. Octopus skin contains pigmented cells known as chromatophores, which allow the animal to change colour within milliseconds. This glowing effect is most visible when their pigment sacs are retracted, allowing underlying structures, called iridophores, to reflect light. After this display of mesmerizing behaviour, our bubbling excitement spills onto deck while we sip our hot chocolate( and rum) delivered by steward Karen Lopez. Some make it to the hot tub, a perfect full stop before bed.
Fin removal service
Arrow blenny
Fintastic service
As you’ re pottering around the boat, perhaps relocating from the toasty hot tub to grab snacks in the saloon, you’ re likely to hear the loud, comforting chuckle of Captain Eddy Anderson. Eddy first encountered marine life at nine years old when his sister‘ made the mistake of lending him her snorkelling gear’ from that point on, they couldn’ t keep him out of the water.
Eddy’ s personal dedication to customers began 25 years ago when he came up with the trademarked‘ Fintastic service’, a service that began on the Roatán Aggressor IV. Here, at the end of every dive, when you reach the ladder of the mothership, you will be greeted by a staff member in the water who will gently remove your fins for you and pass them to the deckhand, allowing you to climb the ladder with ease. This service is welcomed by all divers; however, it’ s particularly helpful for those of us who have creaky knee joints.
Eddy’ s astute observations continue, recognising my passion for photography( and selfies) Eddy shares a gem of information about the upcoming wreck dive-‘ trust me, you’ re going to love this’ he chuckles. El Aguila( The Eagle), was originally used to transport cargo around the Caribbean. In 1990, while transporting concrete, she encountered terminal difficulties off the coast of Utila in the Bay Islands. It sank, but was salvaged and brought it into the harbour. Not long after a storm dragged it back onto the reef. It was salvaged a second time and partially submerged to prevent further storm damage.
In 1997 El Aguila was purchased by