Asian Tsunami - How My Love Of Wildlife Saved Our Lives

Jay Jean Jackson
Aug 31
5 min read

Remembering all those that lost their lives R.I.P.

I was reluctant to include this story but I will never forget what happened on that fateful day ........

Our visit to the Maldives was a dream holiday and as we flew over the atolls that looked like drips of paint in the vast Indian ocean we knew we has chosen the right destination for a relaxing break and some wonderful snorkeling.

Fruit bats hung in the trees next to our little island bungalow that was perched on the edge of the crystal clear waters. We didn't even need to venture into the water to see the amazing variety of beautiful colourful fish of all shapes and sizes that darted around, we could see them almost everywhere. Either sitting next to the water or from the many vantage points at the hotel restaurant that sat on stilts perched over the ocean. We would watch Manta Rays as we ate but it wasn't only the vast array of marine life that could be observed here, there was another dinner guest that would make regular appearances. A very cheeky heron would join us at mealtimes hoping to snatch a snack and charming the guests with his antics. He was very adept at avoided the wrath of the waiters as when they approached he would wind his neck in and hide under the table until they were out of sight. As soon as they left his neck would rise like a submarines periscope to eye the table for titbit's once more.

We loved snorkeling and after our breakfast each morning we would immerse ourselves into the warm waters and gently float down from the pier until we reached our room, each day both amazed and astonished by what we encounter.

Our afternoons were mainly taken up with strolling along the fine white sand before laying in the sun to read a book as the cool waters lapped around our feet or we would sit in the shade of the many palm trees and idle away the afternoon totally relaxed talking about the amazing colourful fish we had seen during our swim. This really was an paradise island. One evening we went out on a fishing boat not because we wanted to catch fish but with no light pollution we knew this would be the perfect place to observe the Milky Way and oh how it shone in the sky, the beauty of it took our breath away we had never seen it as clearly as this.

Christmas Day had been fun with Santa Clause arriving by boat and delivering small gifts to everyone. This was followed by a cocktail party on the beach where we watched the most beautiful sunset. The entertainment carried on into the evening with local traditional Maldivian dances taking place, some wonderful food and more cocktails.

On Boxing Day morning having enjoyed our breakfast we were returning to our room to get ready for our daily swim when I made a spilt second decision. We had heard that a turtle came to the pier everyday, as the hotel staff would throw scraps of fish into the sea to feed it. I wanted to snorkel around the pier when they threw the food in but I was advised against it as a feeding frenzy ensued. It wasn't just the turtle that hung out there waiting for the scraps but many other fish, some which were quite large with massive teeth. OK so perhaps that wasn't such a good idea but I still wanted to to see the turtle so I asked Hugh if he would mind if we went snorkeling a little later. He agreed and went back to our room as I made my way to the pier.

The turtle didn't come that day but the sea did! It rose at an alarming rate, I stood on the pier watching it rise even after everyone else had left, I wondered what on earth was happening and as I made my way back to our room I was shocked to find the whole island disappearing under water. The hotel manager had screamed at me to get off the pier and as I waded my way back to our room in a kind of daze I wondered if this was natural for these islands. The water was half way up the patio door when I arrived back. Everyone was panicking as no one really knew what was happening, not even the hotel staff. When everyone realised that this was certainly not normal for these islands their distress intensified.

We had heard that one day the Maldives would disappear under water as oceans would rise but that wasn't predicted to happen for another few decades, at least! Could that be happening now! How much would they rise? Where do we go to escape? Where should we run to? But....there is nowhere to run! This island really is a dot in the ocean at 0.38 of a kilometre long and .06 of a kilometre wide. That's 61.8 meters wide and 382 meters long. Very very small!

Suddenly the water started to disappear as rapidly as it had arrived, it was as if someone had taken a plug out of the Indian Ocean. You could see the sea bed covered with corals, what was once an ocean had become a fast flowing channel between us and the neighbouring island that was approximately half a mile away. It was a fascinating but terrifying sight as we didn't know when or with what force the water would return! Everyone gathered together near the oceans edge, or should I say, what used to be the oceans edge, their faces questioning each other, all searching for an answer to what was happening but no one knew. Some began walking out towards the corals and we shouted at them to stop as we were sure the water would return.

I cannot say how long it was before the water level began to rise again as I think we were all in a state of shocked fascination. We all watched as the fridge from the hotel and many other items floated past. I have never seen fear in people's eyes like I saw that day. This island was tiny in a huge ocean and there was nothing anyone could do or say, so everyone just sat and watched in silent terror waiting to see what fate had in store!

When the sea levels rose once more, no one moved, there really was nowhere to go and I think fear had paralysed everyone but the water didn't come back with the force we had dreaded and seemed a little more settled, although it rose and fell several more times before it returned to almost normal it still remained rough for days to come.

It wasn't until later that day we knew the scale of the damage and understood what had caused the seas to rise the way they had. The Asian Tsunami had caused utter devastation across most of Asia. We had been fortunate to have been sheltered by a series of islands but we later learnt that some of these had been devastated too. Many people died in the Maldives when the tsunami hit, mostly those that were in the water at that time and we would have been too, had it not been for my love of wildlife and wanting to see the turtle!