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tunnels, pick up starfish and throw sand at
each other. With a flash of the torch, the
surroundings are transformed into a
dazzling display of deep reds and oranges.
Moray eels snap from the reef, while curious
fish – parrot, trumpet, scorpion, lizard fish
and bream – gather round to join our fun.
“You OK?” Molloy signals to me. I give two
thumbs up. Unfortunately, rather than saying
“yes,” as intended, this actually means I want
to surface. Molloy looks concerned, so I
hurriedly give him two OK signals to
compensate. It’s time to plant the cache.
Cruising along the PalmMar Cave dive
site, we find an ideal spot at the bottom of its
rocky cove beneath a sea anemone. Molloy
releases a SMB (surface
marker buoy), so that
our captain back on the
boat can get the co-
ordinates, which are
N 28° 01’ 37.2 W 016° 42’
33.6
19
. Before heading
back up, I take the
ultimate underwater
selfie
20
on the camera
and note my geocaching details on the
clipboard: vicky-lane TFTC! (Thanks for the
cache!). Mission accomplished.
Watching the sunset from a hammock
back at Gran Meliá
21
, my elation is tinged with
annoyance. What is my editor going to say
about Mount Teide? As the sky slowly darkens,
it occurs to me that there might be something
I can do to pacify him.
So, early the next morning, I’m back at
co-ordinates N 28° 03.538 W 016° 34.927 – the
spot by the airport where I found my first
geocache on day one. I relocate the lunchbox
and open it up, where I’m surprised to find
four more names in the logbook. But that’s
not why I’m here. Frommy pocket I retrieve
the second model easyJet plane
22
and put it
in the box. The idea of these trinkets is that
geocachers can leave them as souvenirs for
each other – the next visitor can also swap it,
if they want, for one of their own choosing.
So, that’s what I do. While I may have
failed at my actual challenge, I did plant one
cache, and added to another on Tenerife. And
now I’m issuing a challenge to you, the
reader. If you’re heading to the island
anytime soon, instead of spending your trip
by the pool or on Veronicas Strip in Las
Americas, why not see if you can locate the
one I left under the sea – or find the plane
near the airport? At the very least, you’ll see
a side of the island you’ve never seen before...
*FOR T&CS SEE P187
Tenerife
need to know
(
6
)
Number of geocachers in millions,
as quoted on geocaching.com
(
1976
)
Year a UFO sighting, lasting 40 minutes,
was witnessed by hundreds of islanders
(
500
)
approximate number of geocaches
planted on Tenerife
easyJet
flies to Tenerife from eight destinations.
See our insider guide on page 152. Book
online at easyJet.com
easyJet Holidays
Seven nights all-inclusive at the four-star
Hotel Catalonia Punta del Rey, departing
London Gatwick 28 January, costs from
£162 per person. easyJet.com/holidays*
Red Level at Gran Meliá Tenerife
A five star, adult-only oceanfront
complex with pools, bars, tennis, spa and
gym. Book at hotels.easyJet.com
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T H E C H A L L E N G E
T E N E R I F E
