Anchored. Robinson Crusoe Island, Valparaiso Region, Chile,

Having arrived and anchored in the bay the remote island of Robinson Crusoe yesterday late afternoon, Paul contacted the port agent to find out about scuba diving at Robinson Crusoe Island.

The ship's doctor - he wished he'd caught this fish!

The port agent got back to him this morning and, yes - there were dive companies, and we could go on a dive this afternoon.  Asking around some of the qualified scuba divers, in the end Judith from the Front Desk came as did Charles, the ship's doctor.

We have had a wonderful afternoon diving. The water was very cold but we had suitable thickness wetsuits on.  One of the divers from the dive company didn't join us.  He went off on his own with a speargun.  He arrived back at the boat around about the same time that we surfaced - he had managed to catch some large fish.  These he swiftly killed and let them trail from the boat as we headed back to the shore, keeping them cool and fresh.  Pity we couldn't have one for the chef on board to cook for us!

When we got back to the dive centre there was a young swan nearby, all on its own.  It seems to have been blown off course and, fortunately, landed on the island.  The locals have been keeping a watchful eye on it but it does lack company of its own kind - being the only swan on the island and many miles from home

Tomorrow is another day.

PHOTOGRAPHS