Hopes were high to dinghy up to the Maleluvu blue hole today and with fingers crossed we had our coffee and breakfast. Around 8am the call was made, we were going for it. It was a bit of a bash heading to the mouth of the river with the wind still kicking up chop between islands. Around the shallow sandy entrance things mellowed and we became enveloped in a lush green. Quickly the water clarity improved giving us views of the sandy bottom and sunken trees trunks to avoid. A circuitous route weaved us back and forth, passing a rope swing (by cruisers or locals?) and a few kilometers later we turned the corner and our jaws dropped at the incredible shades of blue that surrounded the blue hole.
Wow, it was just shocking the beauty of this spot. Dinghy tied, Carl and I headed to the rope swing which was handing from high up in a tree. There was a rusty, rickety laden, broken supports, and rust nails poking out of the tree trunk. Tetanus shot up to date? Carl went first while I scouted climbing up the tree instead of the ladder. Nope, no doable. For my first swing I stood atop the ladder and as I began, I jumped to grab a higher knot. Out I went and splash deep into the water I fell after the 3 meter drop.
We went back and forth for a while. Carl headed to check out the slide while I notched another three or four swings. It was shocking how much less buoyant I was in the fresh water. Noticeable when I dove down for a 50 cent coin I noticed 15 or so feet below me. The rise to the surface seemed to take forever. On to the slide I went. It was a fun little slide that dropped maybe a meter and a half at the end. After lapping it a bunch I tried the other small rope swing off of an elevated platform. After the big rope swing it was just, eh.
Back out I swam for more time on the big rope swing. Trying to get a bit higher but finding it was just too risky. Oh well, still it was fun to get in another five or so while Carl sat waiting in the dinghy. I guess it was time to go. One last jump off the elevated platform and we were headed back down the river. The worst part of the trip was to come. The outgoing tide and incoming wind made a very choppy exit of the river with many full body splashes of cold water. Roxy and I in the front were freezing cold, On the plus side, the closed up Sky Pond was like a greenhouse and we were able to warm up in the heat. That and a hot tea after rinsing off got us feeling better and gave us a chance to regale the amazing time we had at the blue hole.
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