The Positive Effects of Climate Change?
Our most recent notable dive event, 18th August, was an unexpected treat at the end of the second dive of the day.
Lynny was guiding a mixed group of 6 divers: 4 from Australia, 1 from Italy and a very lucky and very new local diver.
As the diver’s began their ascent, around 8m depth, a curious 5m whale shark swam past, just 5m from the dive group. It is always a treat to see these gentle giants, but in August, wow, these diver’s were extremely lucky.
In all of our experience, spanning 25 years here on the island, we have never heard of a sighting at this time of the year. It certainly raises a few hairy questions such as: What is going on with the weather? Or; Are whale sharks here the whole year round but ‘hiding out’ somewhere?
Water temperatures have been low, 25-26°C, for an extended time period this year. There has also been a record amount of rainfall during our so-called ‘dry’ season. So, can we attribute unusual sightings like this to climate change? If so, will they happen more frequently? We aren’t scientists, but you do have to wonder……
Despite the weird science aspect, Lynny was celebrating with a “ guess what we saw” victory dance on the surface, while we couldn’t get the grins off the guests’ faces.
There is something magical about an encounter with a very large fish, a feeling that is multiplied by 100 when you never expected it. Perhaps if we could keep our attitude to every dive like this, just taking whatever comes, we could do a victory dance every time we surfaced?