Eriyadu

We started the day slowly, and the pace of life decreased from that point on.

Our lodging at Eriyadu is a spacious air conditioned villa a few metres from the sea, with an open air bathroom containing a real bath, the first this trip.

The resort is a small island about four and a half degrees north of the equator whose shores are lined by such villas, but ours is on the tip of the island and enjoys spectacular sea views. The whole island is just pure white coral sand, and is surrounded by about 100m of turquoise blue lagoon before reaching the boundary atoll reef, marked by a change to deeper blue water beyond. The island's size is such that one can circumnavigate it around the beach in about ten minutes.

We donned our garish new snorkelling vests, masks and snorkels and set off down a sandy lead which brought us to the edge of the atoll. The view below us was amazing. Not just for the diversity and number of fish, but the way the coral scarp tumbled away into the deep blue depths of almost transparent water. It was like watching an underwater documentary film except it was real.

Lunch was a three course buffet, followed by a three course sleep, so the afternoon passed somnolently. We decided that such lunches were not advisable and were glad we had only booked half board.

We sat on the deck outside the bar for the traditional sunset beer, with egrets peering avidly into the shallow water beneath and a lone black silhouette of a ray patrolling the water's edge.

Supper was a similar format to lunch, and we retired to bed at about nine. Or rather we would have had I not accidentally locked us out. I couldn't lock the villa door by key, so had left the villa with the supposedly useless key inside. When we returned neither front nor rear door would open. When he came to let us in, the villa boy explained that to lock the door you just push the inside button and close the door. It doesn't lock with a key, only opens with one. I had accidentally managed to lock both doors before leaving for dinner.