Field trip to Huraa Island

Taking a Dhoni Ride to Huraa Island

My colleagues Elaine and Shazna from Live and Learn

The beach at Huraa

The main shopping strip on Huraa

A communal well

Rainwater Harvesting - Water tanks are now being distributed to all islands

Chillies drying in the sun, good reuse of materials

Used cooking oil containers - these are also reused for growing plants

A Vegie Garden at the Health Centre

A traditional wall made from coral, most buildings are now made from concrete

Art decorating the walls



A visit to the Waste Management Centre at Huraa Island


Plastics and Metals are separated and bagged for eventual collection


Outside the Waste Management Centre organic materials and other waste is burnt, there has been a push by the aid agencies to get the islands to separate organics and set up composting systems as well as shredding plant materials for mulch.



Rubbish bins outside Sunset restaurant, cigarette butts can be placed in them, the first I have seen these bins anywhere


Another bin outside a small island shop


A close by resort private island

Mangroves at Huraa - we had to get some pics for the Live & Learn Field Guides

Crabs - very difficult to photograph

Drifting along

Today I got back into the water for a couple of drift dives. On the first dive the current was quite strong. This stingray was settled in a cave under some sand until we came along.



Here is a close up of a beautiful lionfish

This is a nudibranch (pronounced noodie brank) or sea slug

Such beautiful design in the coral

How cute is this fish, I think it's called a box fish


This is a pipefish

This is a stone fish, very well camouflaged, can you see it? - quite deadly if you stand on it, it opens up sharp spikes on its back that can pierce booties, I saw a good story on them recently on Animal Planet with Steve Irwin and the grandson of Jacques Cousteau, Steve's team were collecting the venom to assist in research for an anti venom.