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A Lionfish scooted past the divers
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date: 12/2/2009
Author:Jess Howard
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Weather: Patchy rain and wind | Air Temp: 29ºC | Wind: North East/North Westerly 15-20 knots | Water Temp: 27ºC | Water Visibility: 15 metres | Sea State: Choppy
Superb! That’s one way to describe today. Morning divers at the Lighthouse Bommie found a big circling school of Big-eye Trevally and Batfish. One toxic Lionfish scooted past the divers as they watched with wonder at his colour and long spines that define him.
The morning birdwatching tour discovered the Pied Oystercatchers relaxing in the middle of the airstrip, they were laying down with their long legs tucked beneath them. Surrounding them were Ruddy Turnstones, flicking through the grass for interesting things to eat, and Pacific Golden Plovers also searching for treats.
The Glassbottom boats were fabulous with lots of turtles posing for photos and one Leopard shark who remained in the same sandy patch for an entire three hours. WOW!
Island Discoverers took a wonder along the eastern beach discussing the island’s formation and some of its most interesting features. Baby bridled terns along the way were barked back into their hiding places by their parents, only to hide their heads as their fluffy behinds were still in full view.
Fish Feeding packed an awesome crowd of guests, with the fish pool full of legs that the fish enjoyed ducking in and out of to find food. Afternoon divers at the Severence Wreck found turtles, Black and White-tip Reef sharks and one gigantic Bull Ray, completely covered in sand under a circling school of Trevally Reefwalkers on the reef flat discovered many seastars, urchins and even one sea hare. The slimy creature was pulling itself into a coral crevice when it was seen. Onlookers watched as it changed its shape, making itself longer and thinner to fit into the small coral hole.
The Turtle Trek was an exciting adventure to release approximately sixty little Green Turtle Hatchlings that had been found during the day. After a nest has emerged, experts dig the nest to determine how successful a female turtle was. It also is a chance to free any trapped little turtles that aren’t able to climb around a tree root or a piece of coral. Our sixty hatchlings were found trapped in nests. At first, releasing them on the beach at the northern end, they were a little slow, but eventually they picked up speed and sped down into the water, to disappear into the ocean for thirty years. Goodluck little ones
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Green Turtle swimming - Jess Howard
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