Commodore
February 18, 2023

Saturday 18 February – Panic at Kicker Rock

At last we are having much better nights sleeping as Rowan’s anti Sea Lion spikes are working really well. First we went into town to pick up wet suits and snorkelling gear and then the usual wait at the dock for our boat. We headed out and discovered we were on the afternoon slot for visiting Kicker Rock, they only allow 4 boats there at a time. It didn’t seem such a bad plan as midday sunshine is the best for snorkelling. We were taken to a wonderful beach near Kicker Rock where we did a very long snorkel around the bay. Loads of colourful fish, plenty of really big ones, plus loads of turtles and sea lions.

Phoebs and Dani waiting for the tour

Passing PolePole

Amazing lush green vegetation covering the lava flows

Beaches along the way

Phoebs and Daniel, the cloud building up over Kicker Rock

Han and and Megan en route in the tour boat

Stunning beach

The gorgeous bay where we snorkelled

Hannah’s go pro video of a playful sea lion

Phoebs and Danni with the seal lion pup

Danni’s wonderful video of a Sally Lightfoot

Phoeb’s video of the sea lion pup

We had heard about a rock fall a couple of days earlier at Kicker Rock that had broken someone’s arm, concussed another person, with three people landing in hospital. In fact it was the afternoon that Widge and Edmund went with Jonny and Janey, and we were so relieved to hear it wan’t their boat. As we all got back on board our tour boat to have lunch before heading towards Kicker Rock, a dark rain cloud was developing near Kicker Rock. When we arrived it really poured down and we slowly circled the rock until we got to the other side and the sun came out allowing some stunning photos. We got our snorkel gear on and had an amazing snorkel through the channel in good light. The guide had told us not to get too close to the walls, keeping at leat 3-5m away. We saw loads of sharks and Spotted Eagle Rays and huge schools of big sized fish. We came out the other side and then circled the bigger chunk of Kicker Rock, admiring the sheer drop off around the sides. When we rounded the corner the rain started again and it was the choppy windward side so our guide said we should go back the way we came. As we got nearer the channel, a group of 3 Americans (12 in our group) asked if we could go through the channel again. Our guide agreed so we all proceeded through.

We hadn’t gone that far in when there was an almighty noise and the water turned into a massive cauldron of splashing water. We all knew immediately it was a rock fall, I tend to hold Rowan’s hand these days while snorkelling, in the panic we separated and I could not see a thing in the spray of the water. All I could think was that I was going to be hit and to get away from the wall, soon people were screaming and we realised people were hurt. The waters calmed and it was a few minutes before we could find Han who had already swum to help the hurt people. Danni had sensibly grabbed Phoebe and dived down into the water for safety. It was a huge relief to find all six of us unscathed. Then the trauma started, getting the 2 most hurt people out of the water and into the main boat. The American woman was swimming in a tiny bikini, the rest of us were all in wet suits, she had loads of scratches and cuts, on her head too, she looked pretty dazed, most probably shock. The other guy had a huge cut and had clearly broken his arm, a big guy to get out and into the safety of the boat. A dingy escorts the snorkelers in case someone needs to get out, so it was a case of getting him into it and then transferring him to the main boat. The rest of us had to swim to the main boat which had its engines on creating a huge propulsion which meant a difficult swim to get on, but we all made it. There was clearly nobody on board with real first aid knowledge and our guide went rather quiet, it was left to a few to tourniquet the guy’s arm to stop the bleeding and help him. He was yelling in agony which was rather disconcerting for a little 10 year old girl, Lindsay, on board with her dad. Phoebs and I took her under our wings away from the commotion, as her dad was helping the injured guy. She was a delightful little thing, in tears initially but soon warmed up enormously. Han was a stalwart in helping the injured guy as his two friends were the injured party.

Once we were all on board we headed back as quickly as possible with the ambulance requested to meet us. Our journey back was pretty sombre but in our attempt to keep Lindsay distracted she entertained us with stories. They live in Oregon and are here on holiday for a month, her mother is from Peru and doesn’t swim which is why she wasn’t on board. Phoebs asked the crucial question about how her parents met …….what a story coming from a 10 year old. Her parents both happened to be at a retreat in Peru and both had a Ayahuasca (plant based drug) vision that they were a match made in heaven!

It was a relief to have the injured party safely in medical hands. We returned to PolePole a little overwhelmed by the whole experience as we had such a near miss. An early night as we planned to leave for the island Isabella as soon as Rowan wakes up in the morning.