 |
|
Saturday - snorkellers delight on southern side
|
date: 13/12/2008
Author:Nick Brennan
|
CONDITIONS
Weather: Sunny and Breezy! | Air Temp: 28°C | Wind: N/NW 25 knots | Water Temp: 26°C | Water Visibility: ~ 20 m | Sea State: Choppy
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
The guests on the glass-bottom boat were lucky enough to encounter Manta Rays on their way out to the reef today. Everybody was fascinated with the gentle giants so the skipper of the boat followed the Manta Rays through the shallows while the guide Laura explained some of the facts about their life-cycle. The Mantas even came to the surface and gave everyone a little wave of their pectoral fins before continuing on their way. Guests on the snorkel boat also sighted an amazing number of juvenile Green Sea Turtles feeding on the harmless clear comb jellys that were in the area.
The breezy weather meant snorkelling was taken to a location at the southern side of the island today. Before jumping in the water and experiencing the incredibly colourful and bright array of sea life, guests were able to get a very interesting perspective of the midday plane landing. The snorkel was made special with a visit from a huge school of squid that were rapidly changing their colour to camouflage themselves.
The divers saw a grumpy looking giant moray eel getting cleaned by cleaner wrasses at the lighthouse bombie and were fascinated by a passing emperor angelfish.
Guests that came on the guided reef walk made some beautiful and unusual discoveries. One of the guests with very keen eyesight spotted a massive decorator urchin that was covered in pieces of rubble and shells to protect itself from the hot sun. All the guests had the chance to observe its pointy spines and get some amazing photos. Another guest discovered a pin cushion Sea-star wandering through a shallow pool, and were amazed as their guide Nick showed everyone its tiny tube feet.
Guests gathered in the Education Centre after dinner to see Laura’s amazing presentation on fish identification and learn more about the local inhabitants of Lady Elliot. After another awesome day of discovery on the reef, guests came home and fell asleep to the gentle patter of rain outside getting recharged to do it all again tomorrow!
|
|
Rays - Shay Young
|
click to download flash player