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Sunday - new unidentified seastar discovered
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date: 7/12/2008
Author:Jess Howard
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Hot and Sunny | Air Temp: 30ºC | Wind: North/North Westerly winds 15/20 knots | Water Temp: 26ºC | Water Visibility: 20 metres | Sea State: Choppy
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Well what a Sunday!
A sweltering beginning to the day reaching 28ºC at just 9am. Divers were relieved to jump into the still cool water at the Lighthouse Bommie, immediately merging into Manta Rays, Eagle rays and a school of Batfish and Trevally. Moray Eels and a massive Grouper were found along the edge of the reef.
A morning reef walk cooled of the feet of all who attended. A new unidentified seastar was discovered, and is still unable to be identified. What a find! Also sighted was a tiny Humbug Dascyllus who seemed intent on attacking the guide’s foot. Then once shadowed with a seascope, he kept attacking the seascope. The striking red Pencil-Slate urchin was only just spotted on the way back in to shore, hiding in a coral crevice.
The Glassbottom boat headed around to the eastern side of the island, to find some shelter from the westerly winds. Jumping in at the mooring for the dive site, Tubes, guests drifted along with the current finding Green and Loggerhead turtles and a small Black-tip Reef shark. Bursting with excitement, as the boat stopped off to pick everyone up, “so many fish,” “a SHARK a SHARK”, “it was amazing I swam with a turtle for ages,” showed how enjoyable the trip was for everyone.
Island discoverers located young Toby right at the edge of his nest doing acrobatics for the crowd. Standing up, then toppling over again, he was centre of attention for ages. Once again two adults were sitting on the top nest, however when visited again later, they had left.
Fish feeders were amazed at the presence of a Cowtail ray who decided to visit fish feeding. He swam by, everyone made a hasty exit from the water, then he swam off again into deeper water.
Divers at Mooring One descended into masses of Big-Eye Trevally and Blue-Green Chromis. Going down, down, down, they also found a huge Moray Eel, lots of friendly turtles and one lone Black-tip reef shark.
As the sun sets upon the glorious day out here in the middle of the ocean, relaxed people are enjoying cocktails at the bar, as the day finally cools of a little.
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Tropic Bird - Jess Howard
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