Sailing Into Freedom

This episode is an underwater marathon. I show a bit of how I do things with the vlog with finding new reefs and capturing a sunset that never seems to come. It just gives a glimpse into the time it takes to arrange a shot and how much effort it requires – nothing but quality. If you don’t like underwater stuff then don’t watch this episode.

I show you viewers where exactly I am and how to get around the myriad of reefs. Some friends join me to go to an anchorage in the middle of the Hollandes Group. It is a little tricky to get into but well worth it – don’t forget to get the Eric Bauhaus book for Panama and this will see your way clear of almost all the reefs. I check out some awesome caves and have a little trouble finding a breathe hole….it’s all good in the end although I am a bit of a turkey. These caves are amazing and seem to go on for ever all the way underneath the reef crest almost to the lagoon itself. I have a great time. I hear dogs barking crazily during the night and wonder on their welfare so I go on a mercy mission to check on them to see if they are alright.

It starts out a perfect day with not a ripple on the water so I use the opportunity to pretend I have a breakdown and try to steer the boat with the dinghy by myself. Not too hard at all really.
The next day it starts to cloud up and I go for a quick spear to get dinner before I get hit…well my timing was a little off and I seek shelter behind an island, albeit the wrong side, that is the windward side. I wasn’t going to stop on the sheltered side because that’s where the 3 meter croc lives. I just need a spot to lay low and allow the lightning to strike the higher trees while I am lying as low as possible in the water. It all turns out OK even though we appear to have a strike very close by.
And our favorite time is upon us once again, that’s right people, it’s croc watch. This time it gets really close to the boats.
Enjoy!

I help out some Gunas with some fuel and they reward me with some fruit, 2 bread fruit a bunch of bananas and some lemons. I have never had bread fruit so I am eager to try it and so are my friends the bees.
We test out the Rocna in weed and it is surprising, it fails first go so I talk a bit about that and I also look at how much fish is wasted when we fillet them and throw away the carcass. Too much I think.
Enjoy!

Nature is awesome. An electical storm passes over Freedom with some very close hits. There is lightning everywhere and I am outside to enjoy it.
I am running out of food because of bad weather and no fish caught. After 3 days I have a short spear at the end of the day without the electrical threat from above. But no luck for me I am afraid.
It is out of season and the launchers aren’t coming anymore with the veggies. Bugger. SO I visit an island where I hear there is a lemon tree and go searching for it.
The storms have finally left so I am free to go out spearfishing. I easily get a nice snapper and come face to face with the largest nurse shark I have ever seen. I also come across another wreck and this one comes with a story.
Enjoy!

I start out by setting a fish bait so we can go see crocodiles at night, unfortunately it didn’t turn out as one would expect….no no really. Nothing but absence of quality.
I go for a spear and see another big grouper, a wreck and a huge dog snapper swims right up to me in 5 feet of water. I don’t shoot it because it is way too big. I keep hunting around to find a much smaller dog snapper which I eventually find. A shark comes in to take a look and then hangs around wanting a free meal. I have no fish float with me so I have to swim it through the whitewater back to the dinghy. The good ol’ shark follows me all the way in ensuring I get back to the boat safe n sound. Good on you shark. I have always said that sharks are carers and sharers.
I team up with Andie and try his new foil board. He shows me how and I have a go. It is freaky. There is something weird about flying above the water. And finally a croc pays us a visit.

A drug bust close by but where are the drugs? Are they in that kayak being madly paddled by that crazy person. Could be….
I find some more crocodile tracks by drone and go and investigate. While there in the mangroves I find some bush tucker, or what I think is an edible bush fruit and I have a taste…there is a tale that eating the fruit will stave off hunger for a whole day and we test this thesis and see if I don’t die.
While spearfishing I find a massive grouper just looking at me in a cave….I admire it for a while before going on a search for a large dog snapper with which to feed me and a family of 4. I am a bit lonely and I am inviting myself over for dinner…aha a sneaky plan.
My salt water pump has broken so all my dishes are done out the back in the dinghy much to the delight of the local sharks who enjoy all the scraps….be careful when you dunk the dishes to rinse, you may lose a hand!