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Thursday - 2m seacucumber sighted
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date: 18/12/2008
Author:Nick Brennan
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Fine and Sunny | Air Temp: 28.9°C | Wind: N/NE 10/15 Knots | Water Temp: 26°C | Water Visibility: ~ 15 m | Sea State: Calm
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
The weather on Lady Elliot Island has been beautiful lately, but today was absolutely perfect! Conditions were spectacular with amazing clear skies and not a breath of wind. On the snorkel boat the island was like a postcard. One lady in the water kicked lazily past the boat on her back singing “There is a God!” marveling at the day. Under the water the guests were astounded by the size of a giant flowery cod that was looking quite cozy in a crevice. One group of snorkellers were particularly interested in the cheeky clown fish that were darting in and out of their anemone homes.
The divers saw two majestic eagle rays swooping through the water as a pair and at one point came very close, giving everyone a thrill. They were also lucky enough to witness the peculiar scene of sea cucumber spawning, where the cucumber stands up straight and releases its gametes into the water.
At Island Whispers in the evening, one family told of a yellow and brown sea snake they had seen swimming through the lagoon. They were very excited and had a great collection of photos they had taken during the day.
The night reef walkers made some amazing discoveries. Along their journey they found a giant 2 metre long synapta Seacucumber. This seacucumber moves along the reef flat with its complex feather-like mouth out feeding on the drifting plankton. A huge Diadema urchin was also found in the middle of a sandy pool, after it had come out from its daytime hiding place and a gorgeous ass ear abalone was also making the most of the veil of darkness grazing on a patch of reef allowing everyone to have a good look at it. Throughout the whole walk tiny juvenile pipe fish followed the group, after being attracted to the torch light dancing on the surface of the water.
After another perfect day at Lady Elliot some of the guests retired to the deck chairs on the beach to bask under the clear starry sky.
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Seacucumber - Shay Young
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