Our adventure at Figure 8 pool

It was a beautiful Saturday and as part of our weekend exercise, my friends, Vijay, Som, Priya and Sree, and I had picked Figure 8 pool. Priya and Som had checked various websites to see the best time to visit on that Saturday.

The websites had told us 1:30 PM was the best time as it was the low tide. Long story short, we had started the hike at around 10 AM and had reached the Burning Palms beach at around 1 PM. First thing we had noticed that the waves were still very huge. And we had thought that eventually the waves would subside as the low tide was at around 1:30 PM.

After few clicks here and there, we had made it to the Figure 8 pool platform at around 2 PM. The pools are at the edge of a cliff that drops down to the ocean and there is a platform along the pools away from the cliff where one can sit on rocks, under the shade of another cliff, and watch the ocean.

I have been to Figure 8 pool before but that was with a tour agency.

Disappointed with the huge waves Vijay and I sat on a big rock under the shade and I fell asleep. After few minutes, Som and Priya came over and informed that the waves had subsided and that they had taken pictures of the Figure 8 pool. Being the greedy person I am for the photographs, I had decided to go and take pictures with the pool.

Vijay, Som and I had headed to the Figure 8 pool. There was a queue to get into the pool and we had patiently waited in the queue. Just when I was about to get in, out of nowhere a couple had barged in who had skipped the queue. The guy immediately had got into the pool and the girl had started taking his picture from outside the pool. Even though I was frustrated and angry, I had decided to let it go.

While waiting for my chance, I had accidentally seen beyond the cliff and had noticed a huge wave coming our way. I had turned towards Som and had shouted ‘Run Som’.

Just when we turned to run away from the cliff, the wave had hit all of us and we were inside the water. The water had pushed us towards the platform and our legs and butts had scrapped on the shells that were near the pools. Because I do not know how to swim, Som had held my left hand tight so I do not go back with the wave into the ocean. His right hand had scrapped so badly that the flesh had come out and he was bleeding badly.

Before we had come to our senses, a second wave had hit us. We had again got inside the water. And this time Vijay had held my hand tightly. Vijay was hurt, he had scrapped his calf and foot. And he was bleeding as well.

There was no time, a third wave had hit us! But luckily we were almost very close to the platform. We were only swept a little more towards the platform.

One thing we learned that day and we learned it the hard way, Never ever mess with an ocean. It is way powerful than one can imagine. It was a miracle that nothing serious happened to three of us. And I must be thankful to both these amazing people in my life for always ensuring and thinking about my safety.

Undoubtedly, it was an epic adventure of 15 kilometres hike. Having said that always ensure you visit Figure 8 pool ONLY during low tides and to ensure to check multiple websites before visiting it.

What happened to the couple who had barged in before me? They were very seriously hurt. I only saw the girl and I saw that she had cuts all over her back from shoulders till her legs.

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