Monthly Archives: October 2014

Diving is fun

31. October 2014Dietmar Henke

After the stormy winds of the last few days the Atlantic was now calm again. Every day was clearly visible, as the salty wet became increasingly clear as usual and allowed the clear view down to the bottom of the harbor. After all, under our boat we had a water depth of 9 Meter. So turn back to the best conditions on "Scuba Diving" with ester and Marco of "AZUL DIVING". In Hinblick auf meinen permanent gewachsenen Waschbärenbauch sicherlich eine gute Entscheidung 🙂 Katja ist ja vor 2 Flown days after Leverkusen, to a number of upcoming appointments and work through exactly this situation I wanted to use, to move into a tougher stance on the pounds body. In order to combine the pleasant with the useful, I had booked a few days ago before a course for the next higher diving license to so-called "Advanced Open Water Diver". Meanwhile, Katja and I already completed a couple of dives. With each further digression we could the testimony of Marco "the best dive is the next dive" always agree more. With experience in the hitherto unfamiliar environment under the water surface also increased our well-being and sense of security.

Part of the course includes a dive at a depth of 30m. Previously, the limit allowed for us was 18m, which indeed is quite decent. Today it was so far as! For this event are esters and Marco had chosen a special place, the one but could only reach by boat. Promptly at 09:30 began the briefing for the dive, was planned with acetate as my "personal" Guide. Esters and Marco laid as always great value on, on the one hand to explain the area and the planned schedule in detail and to convey to the other making the necessary safety precautions and theoretical foundations. It was important to know, for example,, that the air consumption at double depth also doubled and significantly more nitrogen is accumulated in the blood, of the appearance in a so-called safety stop 3 Minutes in 5 Meters is again largely degraded. Now the time had come, wo die Themen Tauchplanung, Zero time, Safety Stop, Air consumption, Nitrogen narcosis and flow with more seriousness were applied. Which is precisely this professionalism gave us the good feeling and confidence necessary, to be with them both in very good hands. After 45 Minutes we were through with the briefing and it was time, to squeeze into the suit. My God, I'm glad, dass das Ding so elastisch ist 🙂 Schnell noch Maske, Hood, Fins, Taken flashlight and dive computer under the arms and then it was already going on. As always everything was perfectly prepared and the heavy equipment was ready for use on board.

The 250 PS des Yamaha Außenborders hatten leichtes Spiel mit dem Boot und wir kamen relativ zügig 🙂 am Zielort an. Our destination was located at the easternmost point of Madeira. Directly in front of us the rocks towered steeply from the sea. Here you could still clearly feel the fierce swell of the last days. The waves breaking on the shallows, and some outside the flow was further partially very strong. Just the idea, having to go through with our SUMMER here, caused a slight horror in my head.

Esters made a small test round and signaled us, that it was time to follow your into the water. Also on board was also Jürgen from Berlin. Jürgen had his underwater camera and appeared for several years in all parts of the world. A quick check of the systems and in "Three" we went by a backward roll into the sea, after all, was the 22 ° C hot. Slowly we emerged from. Immediately introduced himself as usual this wonderful feeling of wellbeing a. Only the bubbling of the regulator broke the silence. After a relatively short time my dive computer 31,8m indicated. The colors of many fish, Coral and stones get a blue tint, because with increasing depth, the short-wavelength red light is absorbed. One was different than usual. Because of the strong swell it went on like in an elevator and down and back and forth. It took me some energy out there to swim, where I wanted to also point. Esters and Jürgen were in it but very experienced. I constantly had to watch, I kept enough distance to both. After some time we went but still very good. Somehow I had the feeling, I pretty well had the issue with the balancing under control, for problems to keep the depth, I'd rather not.

After a good 40 Minutes showed the bottle a pressure of 50 Bar and we started as planned with the rise. Top Marco was waiting for us and took us to the weights and buoyancy compensators from. With some strong flippers and join forces entry into the boat easily managed. On the way back we were then all agree, that the area was beautiful and our team worked well.

In the afternoon, the dive number two was on the program. We again reached a depth of 30m and were treated to another great mining district on the doorstep of Madeira. I never thought, that diving would be so tiring. I felt as limp as long gone. To get me back into the boat, Marco had to help vigorously. On the return trip I was still nauseated, because I drank some salt water after surfacing. Blame yourself, if you take the regulator out of his mouth too soon and not enough air in the BCD pumps. Wieder was gelernt 🙂

In summary,, this day was extremely instructive and good for my confidence. Many thanks to Marco and esters of www.azuldiving.com, who really did a great job. That makes you want to Me(and)hr.

As already said: „the best dive is the next dive“ 🙂

Finally change – we take a boat trip :-)

23. October 2014Katja Henke

Since this afternoon would take off my flight back to Germany, was another dive this morning unfortunately not possible. So when I could not even look out at the water for fish, then we wanted to do on the water just. So we sat ready on time at ten-thirty, to go with the camera on whaling. Finally change, mit einem Boot sind wir ja schon ewig nicht mehr unterwegs gewesen 🙂

Around Madeira, there are relatively many whales. Sorry, we had seen no, as we were traveling with our SUMMER. Last week, almost 500 Been spotted off our port three sei whales meters. The animals up to 18 Be meters long and weigh between 20 and 30 Tons. Unfortunately we had let this special opportunity and made no boat trip since we did not know, that the whale-watching boats launch directly from our harbor. Now we wanted but some games a try. Let's see, if we were lucky.

Normally the boat operator gets information from a so-called “Spotter”, located on land on a mountain and scans the sea with a powerful binocular. Unfortunately, today was the view rather moderate and thus we were on our own. After a short time we were able to find. In the distance we saw another whale watching boat, that a large group observed pilot whales. This can be adopted by our coming not fazed.

So we had the opportunity, long good fifteen minutes to watch the animals right on the boat. The pilot whales are also “Grindwal” stated. They can be up to eight feet long and weigh up to three tons. In our group, the largest animal was about five feet long and very impressive imposing. In addition, there was also a calf, that always remained close to his mother.

After this first success we went in search of other animals. Unfortunately wanted the dolphins, are quite common in this area were well on the way, not show today. For us it was not so bad, dolphins because we had quite often seen. For the other holidaymakers, who were traveling with us, did us but sorry.
But if only the rapid travel in the well be motorized boat was a pleasure, take a bit of roller coaster. A little further away from the land of the east wind had already rebuilt light waves, die mit zunehmendem Bootsspeed wie Sprungrampen wirkten 🙂

On the way back we met our Grindwalfamilie after once. There are simply beautiful and impressive animals. On closer observation we were sure, that it was not the first pilot whales, we had seen. On our way to Lisbon, we were surprised us over the lazy dolphins, who came to our boat in the past sunrise but very slowly and leisurely. For Dolphins, it would certainly have been slowly, aber Grindwale sind wohl immer viel gemütlicher unterwegs 🙂

Back in the harbor it was then first goodbye. The bags were packed and I was on my way to cold Germany. We had cleaned out properly in the last week. My luggage consisted of a huge bag filled with warm clothing, that were clearly redundant on board, and one of our two folding bikes. After much back-and-forth we decide, but not take the bikes, because they do take a lot of space below deck. Also, my backpack was filled to bursting with other things, were not required on board. So packed like a beast of burden, Dietmar took me to the airport. Wait for me in Germany ten event- and busy days.

My second 39. Birthday :-)

22. October 2014Katja Henke

„A woman can with 19 lovely, with 29 its gorgeous, but only with 39 she is absolutely irresistible. And older than 39 is not a woman, which was irresistible once!“
Coco Chanel

My second 39. Birthday, far away from Germany, actually began as any other day. Eventually the sun tickled us awake and it was time for a leisurely breakfast. Nicht der schlechteste Start in einen Tag 🙂 Dietmar düste los, to fresh for our breakfast, to get warm rolls and surprised me with a piece of birthday cake. Despite the wonderful morning he was somehow tense. The answer was my birthday gift, not as planned lay on the breakfast table, but was still somewhere with the Portuguese Post on the go. Since I had to wait a bit….but it makes you look so do not spoil the mood.

So I was excited about the many calls, Email and News, reached me on that day. Despite the great distance we are probably not yet forgotten. The ordered for this day, beautiful weather was then delivered after a few short showers eleven clock. Thus our afternoon dive, nothing stood in the way. Let's see, what would we see out there today.

Time of two clock we arrived at the dive school and had already traveled a short time later to eight to our dive spot. This time we had the difficult task gewältigen, us completely on the narrow boat with BCD, To attract fins and bottle. A Performance, bei der es im 7mm-Neoprenanzug ganz schnell sehr warm wurde 🙂 So freuten wir uns, when we finally overturned in James Bond style per roll backwards over the side into the water. The water was really wonderfully refreshing.

As discussed in the detailed briefing in the diving school, Now we split into two groups. Today we were on the road with Marco. Our dive was to a maximum of 18 Meter Tiefe gehen, deeper than we could with our diving license not yet yes. Normally, the descent is my biggest problem, but today I sank like a stone down. Good, we are not plunged yesterday on the steep wall. As it goes up to 40 Meters depth rather steep downward. Who knows, wohin ich da verschwunden wäre 🙂

Underwater the conditions were good. Out here we met underwater currents for the first time, which could however be overcome easily. We also met many interesting creatures. Schade, that we had no suitable underwater camera, at all times hold. Our waterproof Pentax was only for water depths up 12 Meters allowed. That was a bit too little.

When we reappeared on the surface at the end of the dive, the boat was waiting for us already. In still water, we freed ourselves from the heavy equipment and these ranged up. After that we had it past myself. I preferred the swim ladder (I'm more of a lazy person), while Dietmar with three powerful flippers worked up the boat wall. After a short, faster ride we reached the port and sat on the Relocate longer together, to determine the observed fish.

At half past six we had arranged to meet with the crew of INFINITY SY and SY HAPA NA SASA for dinner in Port Restaurant. Previously, we wanted to just go with Urte of the SY HAPA NA SASA with the car for shopping. The family was so arrived yesterday and had to fill up your fridge again. I was also concerned about the physical well-being of my husband: Not that Dietmar had to starve in the next week, when I was in Germany.

The way to the supermarket was only a stone's throw, but first wanted to be found. So we had only 30 Minutes shopping time, not to appear in the harbor after our guests in the restaurant. Lightning fast we filled our cart, and soon everything was stowed in the car. The exit from the car park turned out to be unexpectedly difficult but. Nowhere was seen to pay the park a machine chips and nobody you could ask far and wide. Urte took the problem in hand and appeared a short time later with the paid chip. Den Automat hatte der Betreiber im Erdgeschoss gut versteckt 🙂 Auf dem Heimweg gerieten wir statt auf die Autobahn noch auf eine idyllische Landstraße, which again gave us a scenic detour. After all Urte so could not gain an initial impression of the beauty of Madeira win. However, we were nearing our guests at the harbor. Since gliders are indeed a very relaxed little people, we could even quickly putting away groceries in the ship. Dietmar was also a sigh of relief, when he finally vorfand the long-awaited package when returning to our SUMMER. So I got (Although after the birthday dive) a great diving camera, water resistant up to 58 Meters with high-tech housing. Now to all photos, I'm on land again at least as many underwater photos to come. I'm looking forward to the first fish, are me swim before the lens.

Then finally began the relaxed part of the evening. Leider ohne die Crew der JOY OF LIFE, which is indeed departed towards Canary yesterday, we sat on this warm evening outside long and celebrated my birthday extensively.

I thank all, who thought of me and have contributed in any way to, that the day has become so beautiful, as he was. I'm really looking forward to my next 39. Geburtstag 🙂

Move with the dive boat

21. October 2014Katja Henke

After a long break due to bad weather dive we were happy, said as Marco on Tuesday finally, this afternoon we could dare our first dive trip from a boat. At the house-reef the water was still too agitated and turbid, but further north the conditions should be much better.

So over time we were two clock before diving school. Today we would not be traveling alone. A German family had booked a boat dive. As always everything was perfectly prepared. We needed to squeeze us only in our suits and pack up our personal things, you're able. The bottles were waiting ready prepared the boat for us.

Already the drive with the speed boat was great fun. Sailing is rather a slow and relaxed pleasure. But that Renner had significantly more horsepower than our SUMMER, more precisely 250 Horsepower. As Dietmar was of course in his element. Thanks to modern technology we take you gladly times a bit Miten . Simply click to open the videos on the links.

We drive out……

Arrived at the dive site, Marco went and esters first to test the conditions under water. From above it looked because of high waves and strong currents not look particularly inviting. Hopefully it was better under water. When they paddled back to the boat, had already read them on the faces, that they had no good news. The shaft was just too high and the view is also very bad. In order for our Plan A had failed. Good, that the pair have a plan B ready. So we sped along the coast to the north. But also to the second possible point the conditions were unfortunately not very inviting. Meanwhile the sun had again completely hidden behind the clouds and the shaft broke in part to the small but fierce, sharp rocks.

Already on water it was uncomfortable….

For experienced divers determined a dive would have been possible, but with our eight dives we were on the level “find out” doch noch sehr weit entfernt 🙂 Mir persönlich war es auch lieber so. I wanted to keep my first boat dive definitely positive memories.

So we went away empty-handed on the way back. For the onset of rain, we were geared up in any case. So our equipment was again rinsed well with fresh water on the way back.

Optimally equipped for rain

Tomorrow is another day. Und zwar ein ganz besonderer 🙂 Da hatte ich schon vor 40 Years ordered good weather. Let's see, whether it would be delivered

Storm in harbor – or a material testing of a different kind

20. October 2014Dietmar Henke

As befits a proper Sunday, we have enjoyed throughout the day, the pleasant climate and can be a good man to love God. Everything was good around us and went his usual relaxed transition. Like every morning, even though we have our planned departure date was still far from routinely informed of what to expect in the coming days Weather at WEATHER WORLD. With interest we watched for days 2 Low pressure areas north-west of us, the already severe flooding and devastation had caused on the Portuguese coast. One of them had up to 60 Node (Orkanstärke) in the center and moved north-east towards England. Only Madeira was spared as a pearl in your oyster shell.

In the afternoon, the friendly lady from the marina management came to our boat with two Marineros in the wake. In a nutshell, we were informed, that for tonight stormy weather is expected and we should check our lines and mooring better. A quick look at our solid rope and another view of the current weather data allowed to grow in me the feeling, that we were prepared for all eventualities. What should happen to us already? Thus, the subject was then again from the table. Why must people always exaggerate so because?

Slowly it grew dark and the wind picked up slightly, But what was normal, because the steep rocks on the coast were not heated and the thermal thereby changing. My dear wife Katja had arranged to meet with Jana of the JOY OF LIFE to a "women's movie night" and thus I was looking forward to a quiet evening alone cute on board. Meanwhile, I drink once before like a bottle of beer and a Western movie of my choice I had made myself really comfortable below deck. The film was shot and geballert there was no tomorrow and nothing would have me can bring calm. Only the ever-increasing, hard jerking of the mooring lines on the bow primarily disturbed the idyll. Eventually it was me then too colorful and I pulled myself together, to watch at least once, what was going on out there.

A view from the window then told about all. Near the harbor entrance I saw against the dimly lit horizon a 54 Foot (as. 18m) Yacht, performed the wild stomping movements of the anchor chain. But now came dynamics quickly into play! The gunslinger had finally break and it was followed by a courageous leap on deck. A strong gust (Windstoß) blew me almost the last hair from the skull ..... I had not expected but. In order to assess the situation better, I ran below deck and turned on the deck lights.

Once on the foredeck, I saw things, which can make an already anxiety. The mooring jerked now so so hard in the cleats and fittings a, that really extraordinarily massive running cleats and fittings these enormous energies could only catch, by allowing them to work and began to move. The wind came exactly from the front, so I could mooring not so easily veer (solve / give). The entire rail above the deck, started on the left and right always more to deform and just the sight caused me creepy feelings. Was I but so far the opinion, that exactly this part of our SUMMER would be indestructible robust. Obviously, the point was now reached, where the material would come to its limits. No idea, Who was hurt more in the woodwork blows, our SUMMER or me.

By the way, I registered, that the other skippers worked on the lines of your ships. The Marineros took care of the boats, whose owners were not present. The big problem was not just the wind, the now constant with 25-29 Knoten blies, but the accumulating tide and the ever-rising waves, ran exactly in the harbor. The jetty grew more violent up and down and the boats also. The only difference, that the movements were not synchronous. As wind pressure on the boats mooring already held on voltage anyway, was the ups and downs twice as critical. With horror we all thought it, that we further 4 Hours accrued boiling water had. So relaxation was not in sight. Meanwhile, heavy rain also intervened in the action. But did not care, because the clothes from splashing were already soaked anyway.

After some time I had also realized, that it has caught us most fiercely, because we were exactly in the narrow region, in which the wave could run in virtually unhindered. The boats left and right of us, therefore, rather danced waltzes and not how we rock and roll. Encouraging looks from the neighbors helped me personally about the mountain. I believe, everyone knew of the boys, how it feels, if like me you just fight with the ropes and tries, to find the most tolerable variant, to protect his boat from the blows.

On the solution of the problem of our friend Lars the JOY OF LIFE came. He took two very massive long mooring lines from the locker of his catamaran, we secured from the Mittelklampen the SUMMER as Spring forward on the web. So we took the wind pressure from the front lines. Thus, we were able to extend the mooring clearly and danced SUMMER "hung" on the central transverse axis on free and from. In addition then more cush were still designed around midnight and the worst was then endured. Against 2:00 I then went to sleep next to my Katja. She had heard nothing of all the. The catamaran was outside the Schwellbereiches and therefore fairly quiet in the water.

The night was restless, but the tearing of the fittings had an end.

Experiences like this are just not with their. We have learned a lot again and I'm sure, that exactly these experiences are necessary, to be a good skipper. I have also noticed, how much I still have our ship. Once again I'm glad, that we have such a stable ship and we did not save in the quality of our equipment. Next time come for sure and then we will probably be much more relaxed because we know, what to do, if it is violently.

After two days was then to recognize, that some pontoons were heavily damaged. Cracked out fixtures, broken anchor and offset float particularly in the entrance area of Marin foreshadowed, the force with which the sea raged here. Of several ships were heard, that the mooring lines are broken in the duration of exposure.

CONCLUSION: Der Atlantik ist kein Ponyhof 🙂

Go West

18. October 2014Katja Henke

For today's excursion we wanted to drive on the mountain roads in the West of Madeira. About the motorway it went to Funchal and then right through a steep valley into the mountains.

Somewhat laborious our little Nissan Juke tormented up the sometimes very steep roads. But compared with the rental car, with whom we were on the mainland road, it was still quite sporty ahead. Bald hatten wir die Abzweigung zur Passstraße erreicht und standen kurze Zeit später vor einer Straßensperre 🙁 So ein Ärger. Since the selection of roads on Madeira but is quite low, we beat back the already successfully tested route along the north coast a.

In Sao Vicente we decided spontaneously, pay the volcanic caves to visit. When we reached the visitor parking lot, We were very relieved. No coaches awaited us, obwohl in Funchal gerade wieder vier neue Kreuzfahrtschiffe angekommen waren 🙂 So lernten wir in den nächsten eineinhalb Stunden eine Menge über die Entstehung der Inseln in dem kleinen Museum, which was located right next to the entrance to the caves. The half-hour walk through the Gotten itself was nice, aber nicht besonders spektakulär 🙂

Passing Porto Moniz we were driving on a small road along the west coast. Quite accidentally we discovered a really incredible vantage point. Before us, the coast was almost 600 Meter ab! From the top of the houses and gardens in the valley looked like miniature toys. With a small cable car (made in Germany :-)) could go down at an angle of 170 ° to the sea. Alone at the sight turned my stomach to. Keine zehn Pferde würde mich in diese winzige Gondel bringen 🙂 So tranken wir lieber einen entspannten Kaffee direkt am Abgrund und überließen das Gondelfahren den anderen.

The West of Madeira is traffic-technically not yet well connected to the rest of the island. On top of the ridge we found in the villages many empty houses, which would probably urgently want a skilled and motivated craftsmen. In part, it looked here but kind of bleak. This impression was unfortunately additionally reinforced by the gathering clouds.

We reached the port before the rain. According to the weather forecast it would probably also the next days are uncomfortable. Let's see, what will really happen. Wettervorhersagen sind ja bekanntlich ähnlich zuverlässig wie „Kaffeesatz lesen“ 🙂

It is always better

17. October 2014Katja Henke

After a day off from diving, we were looking forward to our planned again for the afternoon underwater excursion. The conditions were perfect. The swell was still slightly higher than the last time, but the water was beautifully clear and pleasant with 23 ° water temperature warm.

The first highlight already offered us directly after the dive. A barracuda stood directly in front of the investor and was not disturbed by our presence further. So we saw besides the usual "friend" two very rare slipper lobster. One of them was good 40 Inches long and thus grown absolutely According to the field guide. Even our instructor was a special encounter, because the animals are very shy. No wonder, because they were so many years at the top of the menus of restaurants. At the end of our dive also crossed another swarm garfish our way. Good for you, Dietmar without that Angel was traveling. For the garfish is well known, a very delicious food fish and has green bones.

My personal highlight of this dive was but, I could keep my diving mask during the whole time almost free of fitting. It's just much nicer, because if you can stick out below also correctly, instead of groping around in the always more or less dense fog.

After the dive we were still longer together and made plans for the next day. For tomorrow, Saturday, are predicted to the weather conditions for diving not be good, but on Sunday we wanted to go out with the boat for the first time. Outside in the large nature reserve there are many great places to discover. Even a wreck is lying off the coast here. That would certainly be a great destination just as a possible night dive. The imagination will not have any limits set J So we have been dreaming of next diving license, with which we will have up to 30 Likely to emerge meters deep and excitedly looking forward to Sunday Afternoon. But it was not to be. ....

Over water it is also very nice

16. October 2014Katja Henke

Already on Wednesday afternoon we did with the first car a little exploring. First we went to the East Madeira. But after half a mile listen here to the civilization. The road ended at a large parking lot. Further explorations were only possible on foot. But after the morning dive we lacked the necessary motivation and purpose as well as the right footwear. The roads were definitely not suitable for "flip-flops". So we still enjoyed a bit of the view, before we opened us in the direction of the island's capital, Funchal.

The Way Funchal was also easy to find without sat nav. For a Navi in addition to rent car, hätte den Mietpreis fast verdoppelt 🙂 Ähnlich ist es auch mit einem Kindersitz. The pricing of car rental companies in this respect is something borderline.

Even just 30 Minutes later we were there. Now we had to get rid of only the car. That was then, in turn, no longer as simple J But eventually we had a confidence inspiring car park found. We wanted to be sure, the car later there still to be found. As so often, we made our first on the way to the port. Maybe we wanted to move our SUMMER later but to Funchal? But after a short tour was clear to us, wir bleiben in Quinta do Lorde. On this day there were three Crusaders before cuiser terminal and it was accordingly fully. The personnel of the many restaurants tried more or less intrusive to win us as new guests at the marina. In addition, the entire waterfront was a huge construction site. The small marina is currently being converted into a large marina for us is a possible berth clearly felt uneasy at all with respect to.

After an onset because of the twilight pretty little old town round and a rather mediocre dinner, it went again back to the port. For tomorrow, we wanted the island exploration program but expand significantly.

We started quite early and had selected the North Coast to explore for the day. Somewhere you had to start somewhere. In addition, we hoped to impressive waves, which had been caused by the north by withdrawing depression. The narrow road snaked very picturesque and partly also breathtakingly close to the steep coast. In the small villages we saw the typical Madeira, thatched houses.

During our first coffee break, I also discovered the first wild poinsettia. I had known it, with great strides went on to Christmas. Good, dass wir schon einen Stollen gebunkert haben 🙂

So we dawdled along the coastal road with many breaks for exploration and discovery in the late afternoon until we "Port Moniz" reached. At the northeastern tip of the island rolled up big Atlantic waves, the spectacular breaking on the rocky coast. From land, we enjoyed the spectacle and were looking forward, that we knew our SUMMER securely moored in the harbor.

The return trip took us across the island by a wonderful green valley, the nick deep between the volcanic mountains. Anywhere on the mountain slopes saw terraces, where wine, Bananas or other things were added. Definitely a tedious job, because for large, technical aids was definitely not a place.

When we reached the port, it had already become dark. After dinner we sat for an hour on the JOY OF LIFE and could end this great day with a glass of white wine.

First "baby steps" under water

15. October 2014Katja Henke

From Porto Santo to Madeira Quinta do Lorde on it is only a stone's throw from well 30 Nautical miles. Since we could leave us a little more time on Sunday and make us only about ten clock on the way. Previously, we tried to reserve seats on the harbor master already, because a few thick low-pressure areas to cut through north next week. In this outlook, we did not lie so much at anchor.

After all the arrangements had been settled, it was already going on. Pleasant wind up 20 Nodes and six feet wave made the trip very enjoyable. I did not trust my stomach but still. You never know! So gab es vorsichtshalber unterwegs erstmal nichts zu essen 🙂 Das schadet ja nicht.

Just before we reached the first rocks of Madeira, we were again greeted by dolphins. This time it was a school of about twenty animals. A whale but we can not discover, although here there is to be any. But we are the next day keep our eyes open. Maybe we'll get lucky.

The Port of Quinta do Lorde is part of a hotel complex and is dominated by an impressive rock. We went there directly felt. While I took care of the food, Dietmar completed the formalities at the port office. When he came back to our SUMMER, he had a surprise in the luggage.

For the next day he had an appointment with the local diving school. Now it was serious. In March we had made even in Bavaria our PADI Open Water exam. The last time, when we were diving, we had scarce 10 ° C water temperature and sleet. Das sah hier natürlich deutlich besser aus 🙂

So we started the next day after breakfast, so, prepare our diving equipment. After nearly six months, they were almost a little dusty. Tanks and weights we could use from the diving school, so we did not have to trawl through the whole port the heavy stuff. The anxious question, whether it still fits in his wetsuit after such a long and lazy time, we were able to answer after some pulling and tugging with YES. A completely new experience was but, so that a wetsuit can be very warm. So far I only had frozen in my dive stuff. Today was a difference.

In the diving school we first got a detailed briefing from our instructor Marco. Today, we would dive on the house reef, direkt vor der Marina. Thoroughly he discussed with us the route, we take and the depths, would expect. He also told us, What interesting animals we would get down to perhaps as face. Finally came the last safety information and you say the standard hand signals. Denn Reden unter Wasser ist ja bekanntlich schwierig 🙂 Die Bedingungen an diesem Tag waren ziemlich gut, not to be compared with the Bavarian Stretch, in which we had collected our previous experience.

So we transported all the equipment to the outer harbor wall. When we got there then complete with BC, Bottle and weights were equipped, we felt heavy as. Even simple getting up from the bench and the short walk up the stairs to the water for us was a real challenge. Only the fins and then finally off to clear, blue water. It's just a great feeling, because the water was coated immediately, how much weight one has dragged through the area.

The descent and Tare (Balancing under water) worked surprisingly well. Quite unlike my last dive in Germany I had quickly found a stable position in the water, instead to commute between surface water and ground back and forth. Dietmar had already had far fewer problems with the balancing in Germany and that had not changed. But we were both very happy, that we had a qualified instructor while, who not only knew the way, but also had our air consumption in the eye. In addition, he also saw with his eyes well trained animals, which actually did not want to be seen. Especially try octopus, likes to cheat than stones by. But since they had no chance at Marco. Already after 35 We had used up our air so far Minutes, that we had to finish the dive. Since we'll have to continue to work on our relaxation, denn bei erfahrenen Taucher reicht eine Flasche wohl bis zu einer Stunde 🙂

The next challenge was but, to leave with the entire equipment the water again. Good, the stairs had a stable railing, where you could pull himself up. The perceived 30 Kilos of extra weight forced me almost to its knees. Aber von solchen kleinen Anfangsproblemchen lässt man sich ja nicht abschrecken 🙂

As we sat together after the dive in the sun before diving school, all efforts and starting difficulties were forgotten. In the determination of books we beat all the fish after, who had swum across our path. Strip Barben, Trompetenfische, a spider crab, einen Octopuss, Parrot fish and many others we had seen. But the book was also wanting more. So we agreed directly the next dive for the next afternoon.

So we discovered Madeira first of the underwater side and not just dive on Tuesday, but also on Wednesday. On Thursday but the weather was so, that another underwater excursion was out of the question. Da mussten wir uns wohl oder übel ins Auto setzen und die Landseite der Insel erkunden 🙂

Prints am Bau

11. October 2014Katja Henke

The harbor wall in Porto Santo is a real work of art. Many sailors, who passed through here once, have been immortalized it. According to personal style and artistic possibilities can be found from the true work of art to the stick figure actually everything.

Before we left we had planned, to leave a testimonial for the sailing posterity. Color we already had bought in the city. After we had found a suitable place and had this cleaned properly with the wire brush, I first wanted to apply the white background. And I had powerful support of Alia. Aber trotz vereinter Kräfte beim Ausquetschen der Tube reichte die Farbe nur für die halbe Fläche 🙁 Bis in die Stadt waren es ja „nur“ zwei Kilometer Fußmarsch. Next time I would buy the same as much color, I could paint a whole billboard, wenn ich wollte 🙂

Two hours later I was able to complete the background at last. The dry season I used for a swimming trip to the nearby beach. It is supposed to fritter away no time wasted. Then it got serious: Our Sumsi should on the wall. Not so easy, because erase was indeed not possible. Awkward, I started with the outline in black. I should regret. Because the black color did not dry easily and mingled with all the other colors, I still used. Was für eine Schmiererei 🙂 Aber am Ende war ich doch ganz zufrieden.

To the elbow smeared with paint, I stood on the front of a locked door SUMMER. Dietmar, was not so artistically motivated, had disappeared with Hille and Torsten into the local Columbus Museum. Was neat how he, of course he had closed the boat. Good, if you have nice neighbors. So Lars let me in our boat, without me everywhere had to leave fingerprints colorful. So I had freed me again of the oil paint, as Dietmar back from the city. And he was very satisfied with my work. Probably he was afraid, otherwise have ran next time itself, obwohl er doch so ein begnadeter Maler von Steckdosentieren ist 🙂

SY CESARINA

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