OUR ADVENTURES IN THE BAYS OF MARS ALAM 2 (Part 2)
3. MARSA EGLA
Our first trip took place exactly in Igloo - this is quite understandable, since this bay is located only 4 km south of the Oriental. Taxis were ordered at $20 per car (delivered there and picked up at the appointed hour). Early in the morning, having left the highway, our cortege of two cars, along a dirt path, delivered our company directly to the shore. As soon as we got out of the cars, we immediately smelled of adventures, which we missed for a year - that means we still "have not lost the spirit of adventurism" (c). We looked around - silence, calmness, peace... There was a great desire to fall face down on the beach in order to kiss it. Yes, there is no time to do wallowing in the sand, again - why these ridiculous gestures when the Sea is waiting for us ? ! "Landed", a more detailed survey of the area - there are suitable bumps and even more suitable bushes where we can hide our bags and backpacks. With a clear conscience, we let our drivers go home, not forgetting to request a return at the appointed time.
In fairness, I will say that the coral bay is so-so. But the living creatures surpassed all our most optimistic expectations! There are many turtles in the bay - both hawksbill and green ones (of course, not as big as in Mubarak). A lot of very large fish - trevally, sweetlips, macalors, aluters and others. Surgeons are such that I did not even think that they can be so huge! True, the largest of them "sit" mainly in crevices and holes, but it is interesting to hang at a minimum distance from them, waiting for the "exit". On the southern reef they saw a huge bracken - at first they even thought (dreamers) that it was a manta. A little further I came across an adult Napoleon with a bump on his forehead - he was right in front of my nose over the reef cover. I immediately began to call on the rest of the people, instead of first taking a picture of this handsome man at least once. Most likely, he was frightened by unusual sounds and immediately went into the depths. It is impossible not to admit - I "lohanul" here, unfortunately.
At the end of the exploration of the south of the Needle, we had the intention to move to the northern reef. My husband and I already had it and swam over the sand, according to the plan, but noticed in time that the rest of the company was hovering over something. I had to return to them in order to remind them of the plans - it turned out that they found Murena Tramp on the lid and watched her with pleasure. Naturally, such a desire also attacked me - I “hung” there a little and took a couple of pictures, but quickly caught myself and called everyone on the road with a gesture indicating the direction. We started crossing the bay to its northern reef. Having swum all, some fifty meters, I noticed a huge light brown body floating right in front of my nose. The first thought - "dé jà vu", the second - a hallucination, then - common sense prevailed, and I realized that it was a dugong! Sitting down from surprise (we did not count on meeting with HIM in this bay) and surprise in my voice, I asked my companions, turning around: "Have you seen a dugong ?! " I wanted everyone to confirm that this is not a vision! It turned out that no one saw anything, I immediately lowered my head into the water and realized that the handsome man managed to swim away from us in those seconds. I, like a torpedo, rushed after him. Looking at my acceleration, everyone understood that I was not kidding, and also turned on the speed, as a result, we swam after the dugong for about half a minute. I kept waiting for him to "land", then we will admire him to our heart's content and I will take a picture of HIM. Our efforts were in vain - he went to sea from feeding, and we already know that it is useless to catch up with him, despite his deceptive apparent slowness. We managed to observe only the grace of the departing animal, mainly contemplating its mighty tail. Some of us were more fortunate - the dugong went straight to my husband, who was waiting for us where the mighty handsome man was heading. He gracefully swam past and went into the blue. There was a thrill and pleasure in my soul, with these feelings we moved to the northern reef, not forgetting to swim around the lovely island located in the center of the bay along the way.
All the while we were exploring the northern reef (the best thing I liked there were some coral spots and big looters), I was nagging at the thought that I wanted to go back to the grass in the center of the bay once more. I tried to impress all this on our companions, saying that we will see the turtles. But in the subconscious, and it cannot be deceived, a "worm" lurked, which gnawed at the brain - HE will return! Finishing my exploration of the north, I looked at my watch, realized that we still had about fifty minutes for turtles, which I told everyone about. Friends supported me, and we rushed to the center of the bay. Just a couple of minutes later, I noticed three divers in the distance, who were looking at something in a heap, I headed towards them. One of them actively waved his hands at me, attracting my attention - it was already useless, since I saw the dugong myself and dissolved in this happiness. Here it is in all its glory! Just some three meters deep! O. , in joyful euphoria, grabbed my hand and shook it - it was clear that she was happy, as her old dream had come true! But my happiness knew no bounds - no matter how many times I met this beautiful animal, it causes true delight and fireworks of feelings! We enjoyed watching him feeding, as well as surfacing to breathe - a bewitching sight!
We were incredibly happy with the trip! We told about this to everyone who caught us that day. We infected taxi drivers, people on the shore, and everyone who saw us at the hotel with our joy - our feelings overwhelmed and splashed out! It was on this day that the bartender from the bar in the pool, in which we flopped with pleasure upon arrival at the hotel, at his own request, especially for our company, depicted a chic "Pina Colada"! Apparently, our happiness charged everyone in a positive way. O. was especially delighted, she, like a child, rejoiced and shared her delight with everyone - the fireworks, as expected, exploded! Looking at her, I remembered myself after meeting with the “King of the Red Sea” a year ago, and it became clear to me why everyone said that you don’t even need to see the dugong itself, it’s enough to see such a happy person! This is such a magical animal, if anyone is lucky enough to meet him, then the lucky person gets such a charge that he has something to share with everyone!
For information - the dugong was seen for the first time at 8.45, the second at 10.15 (local time). Yes! I forgot to say! That HIS Majesty even deigned to poop (sorry for the intimate details) before our eyes (there is a photo), now HIM can be searched for by "footprints" (we noticed his excrement as soon as we entered the bay, although we did not understand that it was their furiously ate fish). I took this fact for money. I don’t want to think at all that the dugong did it “out of fright”, perhaps from the joy of meeting old friends. Well, okay, consonant (let's be more modest) - with old acquaintances.
I also forgot to say - it was definitely our last year's male from Marsa Mubarak Bay (for reference, the distance between Igla and Mubarak is about fifty kilometers! ).
Unfortunately, on that day, our camera (or rather, the battery) "kicked out", so the pictures are minuscule, but the video turned out a little. For some reason, the camera, which was charging (as we thought) the whole night, began to "ask for fire" after an hour of swimming (that is, the battery died). While shooting a video with HIM, the device kindly said goodbye to me, asking me to change the battery, and went out. Here is such a sad story with the filming of that memorable day. But it didn't spoil our unforgettable experience! No photo or video can compare to a live encounter with a sea cow!
On the way to the hotel, we met a company that had their first vacation in Mars, and people who did not understand at all what kind of place this was and why they had to go there. Moreover, not all of them can swim, there were two sets of mask / snorkel for all (5 people), and generally only one fins. After listening to our stories, they rented a car (60 Euros per day with fuel) and drove to Marsa Mubarak Bay to watch turtles. So, they all saw a dugong there! Even a completely non-floating girl was dragged to him on an inflatable pillow. How can you not believe that "beginners and fools are lucky" (c)? The most annoying thing is that they do not even really understand their happiness and did not appreciate true luck. We know many zealous fans of the Red Sea who repeatedly try to see this beautiful animal and they still fail, but here it is easy! We remember this moment very much - I don’t want to develop the idea of injustice. Apparently, there is something else here, and this other makes one think about the mysticism of the Dugong. I hope that his contemplators, after all, do not interfere too much with his life, and he will not leave in an unknown direction.
4. MARSA ASSALAI
On the eve of the planned trip to this place, the weather was very bad. An enemy wind blew. In their bay were - turbidity, current and wave. The whole evening they "conjured" so that the wind would at least subside a little, otherwise even at home on the balcony everything was blown away. But, there is no way back - everything is agreed and tomorrow Assalay is waiting for us.
Early in the morning, at the appointed hour, we were "picked up" by cars (the issue price is $ 25 for each, only 7 km south from the hotel) and taken to meet another fairy tale! Oh, and we love this business! Especially cool feeling when you go to an unknown place and do not understand what you can expect from it. But we already knew what to expect from this particular bay, since a week before us, our like-minded people had been there and met face to face with a hammerhead shark. Perhaps I would have waved my hand and said something like "I dreamed", but the photos provided clearly confirmed the meeting with this particular fish, and of an impressive (about 3 m) size. Of course, I am a fan of all sorts of interesting meetings at sea, but I never longed for a "rendezvous" with similar marine life. Therefore, all the time that we were in this bay, we involuntarily looked around - we wanted to be ready for a possible date. But, either "the shell does not fall into one funnel", or the time was not right, but the hammer did not come that day. Not to say that I was upset by this fact (you can even consider me a coward), but there was a feeling of an unfinished task, especially considering that we prepared for such a meeting after the news.
This bay is surprisingly original - it is framed by mountains on both sides, which means it is protected from the wind. And on the northern ridge, the fundamental steps leading to the beach surprised me - they inspired thoughts about the ancient culture of this country and devotion to traditions. The beach here is very comfortable and the entrance to the water does not cause any inconvenience. So, dressed in our "dresses" we entered the waters of the bay with great pleasure and expectation of meeting with the beautiful! And the sea itself is beautiful (lovers will understand me)!
If we discard unnecessary emotions, then we must say that in this bay we were impressed by the northern reef! There are excellent corals - chic plateaus of fans made of reticulated millepores, as well as multi-colored coral virgin glades, capes and bumps. A large number of large living creatures - herds of rhinos, large sweet lips, black macolors - are innumerable. Very large red-breasted cheilins and other fish common to Mars and the Red Sea are in abundance. The further north, the stronger the wave and the current, and the reef is poorer - alas, but this is normal for these places. The southern reef will be simpler, but also peculiar and full of secrets and possible meetings, so it will be interesting to see for the obsessed investigators of the Red Sea.
Suspension, current and wave are quite possible in this bay, which may not make it possible to get high-quality photos (which did not allow us to make a good photo session), but this will not particularly affect the pleasure of contemplating beauty.
So I recommend going there at least once - there is not too much variety for crazy lovers of Mars, especially since there is a real chance to meet a hammerhead shark!
P. S. The video of the dugong is not yet ready, I promise to throw a link here later.
THAT'S NOT ALL!
