#3: [29-Nov-07]

#2: [14-Jun-06]

08-Jun-2006 -- We made two successful visits through 25N 37E while transiting on Dream Voyager between Umm Lujj port and our coastal carbonate reef geologic study area 40+ km north of the Confluence. We visited at 11:21 a.m. on Thursday, 8 June (this report), and at 8:13 a.m. on Wednesday, 14 June.

We departed at dawn from the Umm Lujj Coast Guard station and spent the morning hiking the SW flank of al-Ḥasāniyy Island. After departing al-Ḥasāniyy, we approached the confluence point from the SE, taking care to avoid a large shallow reef area 800 m SE of the confluence point.

Our ship's track shows that we traveled within less than 10 meters of the convergence point. This is a remarkable result, given the difficulties to maneuver an 85-ft ship in variable wind and sea conditions. Captain Johnny and chief navigator Eric Mason guided our accurate course seen on the attached maps. One of the more distinct stills from video recordings of the shipboard Furuno GPS shows our position within 6 m, at 25°0.021'N and 36°0.0028'E.

The view to the East-Southeast is of Libāna and al-Ḥasāniyy Islands. Waves breaking over the shallow reef are viewed to the South. To the West are Ši`b al-Suflāniyy reefs, a beautiful dive site. We were escorted by 2 dolphins as we continued our journey north.

After six days of reef carbonate studies and associated scuba diving, we visited the Confluence again, before returning to port at Umm Lujj on 14 June 2006.

In the sea, but with a view of land.