Text by Mary L. Peachin with photos by Cameron Azad, Bilikiki Cruises, and Mary L. Peachin
Jan./Feb. 2012
Vol. 16, No. 3
A dangerous saltwater crocodile had been sighted in Mirror Pond, an underwater cave on Mane, one of the many mangrove atolls in the Russell chain of Solomon Islands. “We do not know the behavior of this man-eating crocodile,” stressed Scott Waring, then divemaster on the Spirit of the Solomons liveaboard diveboat. “When he has been seen, he is usually lying on one of its cave’s ledges. Waring advised that while the crocodile had previously attacked a snorkeler, it had never bothered a scuba diver. He urged “when you follow me through the 250-foot underwater passageway, please leave me plenty of room to escape!”
Waring’s wife, Diane, chimed in, “It’s only a small croc and it isn’t always there.” Confidence bolstered, I decided that I was up to this scuba diving encounter. Perhaps, foolishly, five of us felt that there was “safety in numbers.” Those aluminum tanks on our backs help us feel invincible.