Leaving Vis, after paying the 50 quid lazy line fee, we motored past limestone islands littered with abandoned military towers. We anchored near the cave we were told about and inflated the tender grabbed our masks and snorkels and headed into the cave.
In the centre of the roof of the cave was a hole through which sunlight poured striking hte water and forming a blue glow with a beam of sunlight reaching all the way down to the rocky bottom. We slipped into the water and snorkelled around – my waterproof camera in video mode caught some of this and I swam underwater through the beam of light and fish (the kids were doing the Jaws soundtrack when I showed them it). The water was very cold but my Icebreaker merino top kept me warm and after a while it was enjoyable too. Getting me back into the tender was a bit more challenging but 4 shell oil workers helped!
Having the cave to ourselves and snorkelling in the crystal clear water was magical.
We got back to the boat, which was still there, clambered back on and then had the joy of trying to get the tender back on board. We eventually winched it through some great engineering rigup from the Shell guys. Andy changed his leg and we were off to the next destination – a secluded bay off the island of Hvar with bars and a sunbathing bikini clad waitress.
I swam to the bar through anchored yachts wearing my Tilly hat and hobbled across the rocky beach to meet the others, who had come by tender. A beer and a swim back and e were ready for dinner – we took the tender over, dined on a massive amount of seafood and meat with the grappas and wine and staggered back to the tender.
That was when Andy and Pete decided to tip the tender over as Andy got in – Pete managed to save the situation by grabbing Andy before he hit the water which would have brought the tender over too into the cold water filled with spiky sea urchins.
We made it back to the yacht in one piece, tied up the tender up the starboard side as the stern was going to be the easy urinal (no swimming in the morning methinks) – the gin bottle was open and we settled down to a rowdy set of rugby songs – with actions. Not to sure what on earth any boats in listening distance thought.
We all snored well that night…
