01-Jul-2007 -- For end of June 2007 I had the chance to join a group of divers on The Kairos. Our plan was to leave from Dar es Salaam to the North East of Mafia Island for a few dives, then travel from there to Latham Island for further dives and a visit to Latham Island before returning to Dar. Knowing we would go to Latham, I tried to find all possible maps to find out where about we would need to pass in order to be able to reach 7S 40E - I had already earlier thought about this Confluence close to Latham but had no chance of getting there.
Shortly after departure from Dar I started to convince the Captain to join me on the 'confluence hunt' and when we left Mafia to Latham, we calculated the time it would need to pass the Confluence, and if it would fit the route envisaged. It seemed to be just a small deviation and calculations indicated that we would reach 7S 40E in the early morning hours of the 1st of July, 2007. I took only a short nap and made my way to the bridge, where all GPS showed the route, the Confluence, and even the time remaining to get there. The morning light was just coming up as we were accompanied by school of dolphins that tried to play in the waves of the boat. The bridge was well equipped with GPS and digital that I had to choose between them and my small one.
From the earlier look on maps, the island was only a few km away, and as one can sometimes see Zanzibar from Bagamoyo, I had hoped that Latham would show. But we got closer and closer and Latham Island was only to be seen on the digital maps. But as I was so close I still had hope to see land. If not, I wanted to put this Confluence as secondary anyways.
Well, the GPS indicated 7S 40E, but no island. Latham Island turned out to be too far and/or by far too small/flat to be seen from a 13 km distance.
Nevertheless as we -rather to say the Captain- had managed to get the boat exactly on 7S 40E, it was now the task to get the picture at the very right moment. I nearly missed this moment in all my hope I would see a bit of land and watching the monitors. So the picture does not show the 00" but it's still within 100 m.
After all the required pictures taken in all directions, I spent the rest of the beautiful morning watching the company that was still on all sides of The Kairos till it was time for breakfast and to get ready for our dive. Maybe I should try to dive at 7S 40E next time.
Thanks to the Team of Kairos, I managed to pay a visit to this Confluence.