04th March 2007
Before the expedition, we did a trail run to understad the ability of Gochi and timing to estimate the trip. He is a Scuba Diver, from age of 4 years old but that dose not assure his ability to do a snorkeling around the Bali estimated 450 km coastline.
Early in the morning we prepared for the trip, timing the tidal change to against the current was a counting factor. About ten thirty boat man Mr. Agung from my Darling boat service patiently waited for the tide to start came up, he was also curious to know the ability of the little Gochi, We started from the Sanur bay pass through Semawang, Mertasari to the start point north west of the island. Not to mention the destruction caused to the environment during the reclamation of the island.
Start from Serangan island (as known turtle island) about 11am and swam towards the Sanur bay.
We were equipped to minimum. fins, mask, snorkel, nothing else such as a wet suit protection, only a T shirt. At the beginning get adapted to the water and the large fins he was wearing in that bad visibility of that mertasari lagoon, Currant was against us but slowly but surly we were progressing, when Gochi started to complain of man made pollution and thirst.
We met a local fishing boat in the lagoon during our swim and had help us with water to drink and continued our swim. Thanks to them as they were kind enough to supply us with limited supply of water they had. also I read from their face that we were out of our mind to swim around Bali..I wish every body living in Bali and love understand the pollution of the environment and damages.
Gochi had a feeling of sea sick... so we swim to beach, off Sanur Beach Hotel area, had some break time and reach to Semawang Beach, Sanur about 12:30.
Estimated 5 km (GPS and Indonesian Navy Navigation Map) distance, 1.5 to 2 hours time including the break., we did reach the speed as planned, good result from this trial swim with current, against wind and bad visibility made me confident to take Gochi and personally he could figure out the difficulty to come.
When I asked him the question about his readiness, he reply to me "if you can, I can but slower"
Good confidence from Gochi..