It’s a very unusual feeling. Rocking back and forth, back and forth and back again. No land in sight and a boat that has been cut in two and rebuilt with an actual mine in the middle beneath your feet.
The rocking back and forth can be dealt with via a strong stomach and some anti-nausia tablets. There is nothing to be done about the mine below your feet however.
The once-in-a-lifetime experience of visiting the DeBeers offshore diamond mining ship is something that I will most definitely never forget. Firstly because only a handful of people in the world will every visit this masterpiece of modern technology and engeneering. I could probably say that about many of the things I’ve experienced travelling the country over the past few days but more on that subject in posts to follow. For now let’s stay above the ocean but only barely.
To reach the offshore diamond behemoth involves a 20 minute helicopter flight (my second in so many days) there and another 20 minute flight to return to land. So 40 minutes there and back which in itself is an experience.
Once on the ship it quickly becomes apparent that sea sickness is inevitable, so I popped a pill and bit my tongue trying not to upchuck breakfast.
The tour around the ship was expansive and the staff were exceptionally helpful, clued up and ready to answer any questions that we might’ve had.
Here are some photos to illustrate the tour better than I could probably describe it in words.
One thing that everyone neglected to mention was the body search which bordered on a cavity search if you ask me. See the thing is, in spite of all the precautions and months (literally) of safety planning for a 4 hour tour of the ship, one can never be too careful when it comes to diamonds according to DeBeers. So the body search is essential. The smiling gentlemen gleefully took apart anything he could. My shoes, socks, denims, shirt, mouth, arms, legs, toes, ears and any other crevice which isn’t too intrusive, that can be searched is searched.
I escaped relatively unscathed from the grand searching finale and boarded the chartered flight to Johannesburg.
For more content from WeBlogTheWorld bloggers visit the WeBlogTheWorld South Africa website.
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