Well, since I last blogged there has been much activity good, bad and ugly!
The typhoon season hit us here with full force and it would appear caught many unaware. Puerto Galera saw some severe damage with trees down everywhere, the roof of a local complex landed in the main street cutting it off. Of course the power was shut off in advance and we spent a week and a half waiting for all lines to be repaired and reconnection. Luckily we have a generator and are prepared but even so you cannot run these things permanently so it was very warm at times. We added two battery fans to our night time air flow and this helped. In hindsight I wish I had started a generator supply business because they were in much demand.
Just before the storm we dived the Alma Jane and you can see a video of this on my video page. It was one of the best dives I have experienced on the wreck with no current, clear waters and much activity. I haven’t been back since but am told there is more damage to the wreck since the typhoon Quinta.
Having recovered from Quinta, which also saw a ferry wash up on the beach, we braced for other storm systems but in the event they blew through without much damage.
Then there was the flood. A storm system of rain clouds hung over us, almost localised just to Puerto Galera. I had been out walking the dogs on the Windmill Hill when it gained strength. The road back down was a river and the unmade track that leads to our residences was washed over by the force of water coming down the mountain. I later discovered that the road had given way further up the windmill hill and the water diverted straight down our valley rather than the drain system. I had only commented a week before to Mia that there was a large crack there following an earthquake the day previous. So more power outage and water supplies interupted.
We finally hit a period of stability to then wake up to news that the wet market (that’s basically all meat, fruit veg etc) had caught fire overnight and burnt through. Luckily no injuries but it exposed the lack of fire protection here in PG especially since we are right next to the sea! Faulty electrics are blamed but there is no way of knowing. Ugly.
Still diving continues for the locals and its a pleasure to be in the water with whole dive sites to ourselves. My Autumn roundup video will have you salivating and no doubt planning your next trip post vaccine. The cost of the PCT tests are falling all of the time so no excuse not to come for Christmas if you are Philippines based.
As we enter December, and the Christmas Season (albeit the lights and trees have been up for some time already), thoughts turn to events around the world and the need for Covid19 to become a managed infliction rather than a deadly disease. News of successful vaccines is heart warming.
Okay, enough for now. Take care and stay safe wherever you are.
Scuba-Jay.
Scuba Jay 