Diver Nic

I finally managed to get on the net after the generator fried our network cable. Now the generator is fixed it has decided to put out high voltages that blow computers and lights and tvs. So we can have no power, or volatile power!

Over the week more people departed from Xavier. Joel, another Micronesian teacher, returned to Yap, and Fr Bill and Fr Arthur went to Pohnpei for a retreat.

We finally finished the ICU last Saturday. It was a great relief and I was exhausted, but it was also hard having to decide who would not come to Xavier - I didn't realise I had gotten so attached. I have some good memories, including the day I was surprised to see the students relaxing in the hut with the 'resident petrol sniffer'. The guy was there sniffing away while these 8th graders watched on in wonder!

We also received the Aloysiad last week. It was great to read our article and it made me very 'schoolsick'. The summer program (XEP - Xavier Entrance Prep) starts on the 20th for 4 weeks.

I have had plenty of time to finish my work lately, read good books and study Chuukese. Last night we played cards, slapping the mosquitoes (they're everywhere!) and eating ripe mangoes. You need to get up early in the morning to get them because all the workers and local Sapuk kids are up just as early to go mango hunting. This Sunday we are going downtown to kayak and have a afternoon bbq to relax.

I'm not bored which I am very thankful for. And how could you be bored when you can go DIVING!!! Yes i finally accomplished the impossible and got up on Tuesday morning to go diving with a Brit backpacker.

It was a beauitful day as I dived down 25 metres with Peter and 2 Micronesians to see the Rio De Janeiro - a massive supply ship. As you drift down, it suddenly appears in the blue and its sheer size overwhelms you. You can't see the whole boat because its too long. It lies on its side in the water, and we coasted along the deck past large guns, looking inside cabin holes to see telegraphs and the engine room. We even saw a room completely filled with cases and cases of saki! Then we swam around the propellor (it was taller than me) and along its hull, which was almost like a reef it was so covered in coral. I was enjoying every minute, watching tuna swim by as I drifted along the hull of this steel giant.

After surfacing we headed to another smaller wreck, the Futagami (a tug boat). This lay slanted in a bed of silt and was just as good, if not better. Even though it was smaller, I loved following my guide through a hole and into the engine room, poking around the dials and through holes and openings. We could even go into the radio communication room and the main cabin. You can get your picture driving the ship in the cabin. It was brilliant! Then we visited the reef alongside the ship, checking out the local sea life.

The day was too good to be true and it was even better knowing the Brit backpacker had taken awesome photos on his digital camera. I have to get them off the computer downtown, but when I do, you will be the first to see.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Rio De Janeiro

Length: 142 metres

Tonnage: 9,626 t

Today, the Rio de Janeiro Maru sits at a maximum depth of about 34 metres, with the ship lying on its starboard side. It is located on the eastern side of Uman Island, perhaps a few hundred metres off the southern most end. As you swim down onto the wreck it is quickly obvious that this is a huge wreck, the fourth biggest in Chuuk Lagoon in terms of tonnage.