Nudibranchs

The divers favourite. A nudibranch is an ornate sea slug like creature. There are over 2,000 known species so plenty to look for when diving in warm waters. Some great Nudibranch photos here - https://www.ranker.com/list/nudibranch-types/ranker-science 

Here's one I snapped at Sea Gypsy - 

Fred's stamp

This one is very special to me. 73 Sutherland Road, Thornton Heath, Croydon. My nan and grandads house. When I was a kid, I'm guessing about 7 years old, I was obsessed with this stamp in my grandads modest collection of about 30 stamps. I kept begging for him to give it to me. He never did! I suddenly remembered this precious moment in time from my childhood and went looking for the stamp that I loved so much.  Thank you the internet and thank you eBay for allowing me to find and buy a copy. 

Unscheduled stop

I couldn't resist this oddity. Quite why the Maldives issued a stamp featuring the Virgin Trains Pendolino is anyone's guess. I did attend the official launch of the Pendolino back in 2002 with Richard Branson and Pete Waterman! I also travelled on this magnificent machine on more than one occasion... 

Caravelle

The SUC Caravelle, with its triangular windows and sleek 60s cool looks. I flew on one such aircraft, to Sardinia and Rome. The Altair aircraft F-BNKG (below) was a regular visitor to Gatwick and thanks to the station manager I managed to blag a couple of flights on this aircraft, including our dodgy fake honeymoon to Sardinia. 

Bermuda Map

A map of Bermuda on a postage stamp. What total joy. This fascinating, historical, beautiful archipelago is not part of the Caribbean, but a remote nation positioned all on its own, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

Arrecife Coralino

Why did I never travel to Cuba? I suspect I'll always regret the fact that I had plenty of opportunities but never visited this fascinating Caribbean island nation. So stamps is the next best thing and if nothing else I have learned here that Arrecife Coralino is Spanish for coral reef. 

Johor 1949

Stamp and photo

From lovely Singapore, the Copperband Butterflyfish. This stamp was issued in October 2001 very close to when I was actually in Singapore.

Here's a photo I took of one while diving at Sea Gypsy Village:-

Rhino

And so to Africa and the fat grey unicorn. Our first trip to South Africa together staying at  Lion Sands and an unforgettable Rhino encounter- 

The Florida Keys

One of a fine set of stamps from the USA, this one featuring coral in Florida which is located off the coast of the Florida Keys. This is the only reef found in continental USA (Hawaii also has coral). 

The only time I dived (as opposed to snorkelled) in the Florida Keys was an interesting affair. We were staying at the Ocean Reef Club (it's posh, look it up) where Greg was a chef. One day Greg arranged for us to go out on a boat with Rick (the resident dolphin trainer). He told Rick that I was a qualified scuba diver. I wasn't. Rick took this at face value, I was too embarrassed to admit the truth. Rick took me out on his boat, strapped me into a scuba rig and threw me overboard. I lived. Just. 

And here he is on that fateful trip. Rick Trout the dolphin man. His departure from Ocean Reef and life thereafter turned into a drama to rival Tiger King.