Day 38 - Seychelles, Day 2: Catamarans, Coral Reefs & A Dramatic Snorkelling Adventure

 Our second day in the Seychelles began with a tropical rainstorm, warm and heavy, drumming on the ship and washing the island in silver. Thankfully, our excursion wasn’t until the afternoon, and by then the sun had burst through in full, glorious force — bright skies, shimmering sea, and lush green hills glowing in the heat.

Joe had a slow, quiet start, while I headed to the gym, which was blissfully empty. I could move freely without feeling like I was in anyone’s way — such a rare treat! Afterwards, I grabbed my veggie juice, enjoyed the calm morning air, then headed back to shower and get ready for the day.

Our tour was leaving at 1:15pm, so we had a light lunch at Compass Rose before disembarking.

Onto the Catamaran

We were taken by shuttle to the old marina, where we boarded a large, beautiful catamaran with around 60 guests. Shoes off, safety briefing done, and then Joe and I headed straight to the front deck — the best seats in the house.



We sailed across the turquoise waters toward the Sainte Anne Marine National Park, a protected area surrounding the Seychelles islands. The skipper pointed out different islands as we sailed by — each one more postcard-perfect than the last.

We were then divided into two groups:

  • Group 1: off to the semi-submersible to view coral reefs and sealife

  • Group 2: remain on the catamaran for a scenic cruise

Joe and I were in Group 2 first, enjoying the gentle breeze as the catamaran traced the coastline before returning to swap with the semi-sub group. The underwater viewing was fascinating — corals, colourful fish, the whole hidden world beneath the surface coming to life.



Snorkelling… and a Dramatic Turn

After the semi-sub experience, we were told we could:

  • snorkel with a crew guide,

  • swim off the back of the boat,

  • take the zodiac to a nearby island,

  • or simply stay aboard and relax (which I did).

Joe, naturally, chose snorkelling.



Getting himself geared up was a challenge — fins, mask, life jacket — but eventually he was ready and made his way to the back platform.

And then… the drama began.
(And yes, I know you’re shocked — Joe? Dramatic? Never!)

Once in the water, he panicked, convinced he was drowning. Of course, he wasn’t — the life jacket kept him afloat perfectly — but in the moment, fear took over.

The skipper reached him quickly, keeping him calm until more crew arrived. It took several of them to lift him safely out of the water and back onto the boat.



In the chaos, Joe hurled his snorkel away thinking he'd never need it again — and it promptly disappeared into the sea.
But one of the incredibly kind crew members jumped in, searched for it, and found it. A small miracle!

Once Joe caught his breath (and his dignity), he decided he wasn’t going to let the experience defeat him — so he boarded the zodiac to visit the nearby beach. I was very proud of him for that.



Returning to the Ship

After everyone returned from snorkelling, swimming or beach visits, we sailed back to the marina and rejoined the Navigator. The ship lifted anchor and began its journey toward Muscat, with several sea days ahead.

Back onboard, we showered and dressed for dinner at Compass Rose. But on our way there, Joe began shivering, clearly shaken and exhausted from the day’s events.

He had some soup, then we returned to our suite so he could rest and warm up.
Fingers crossed he feels much better tomorrow.

Daily Reflection:

Even the most beautiful days can hold moments of fear —
but courage is simply doing the next thing anyway.
And love is being there for one another through it all.

Highlight of the Day:
✨ The moment Joe fed courage instead of fear — choosing to get in the zodiac after the snorkelling scare. Bravery looks like that sometimes.

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