 |
|
Anchor bombie was also covered in green turtles
|
date: 12/5/2009
Author:Nick Brennan
|
Weather: Overcast
Wind: SE 15-20 knots
Water Visibility: ~20 m
Sea State: Chop
The visibility was great today and there were plenty of keen snorkellers to make the most of it. The scissor tail fusiliers were everywhere today, fascinating snorkellers as they gulped down the tiny plankton that make up their diet. Their colours also intrigued guests as they learnt that they are functional as well as beautiful. These fish are iridescent blue with a yellow stripe down their side and during the night they retire to the sea floor and turn bright red! A lot of people found that hard to believe until it was explained that red is actually a very good camouflage colour as it is the first colour to disappear off the spectrum underwater making the fish appear black. One guest said it was like the fish was putting pajamas on – which is exactly right!
Anchor bombie was also covered in green turtles that were wedged under the coral ledges having a mid morning snooze and made for some very cute photo’s of sleepy turtles.
The guided reef walk was lucky to come across some beautiful New Caledonian sea stars crossing the reef flat. Guests were impressed by the speed at which they were moving especially after they saw the size of their tiny feet! A bit further out in the lagoon a Diadema sea urchin was wedged tightly in a crevice. These creatures are covered in razor sharp spines that are very brittle. One women told the group that when she was younger she had the unfortunate luck of sitting on one of these creatures. Needless to say she commented that the experience wasn’t much fun and re-enforced the need to be careful on the reef flat and watch where you are walking. The reef walkers were also impressed by the Christmas tree worms that were littered over the many micro atolls through the lagoon. Their bright colours made for some great looking photos.
In the evening guests came on a Night Stalk and saw a muttonbird chick that still had his fluffy collar. It has been great watching this bird grow up into an adult and it was a very cute encounter that the guests loved. Also along the way they saw a centipede, which are thought to have been introduced to the island with building materials for the resort. It is quiet rare to spot one as they normally keep out of the way.
After the night stalk guests went back to their rooms and enjoyed falling asleep to the sound of the waves breaking on the shore.
|
|
Scissor Tails - J Howard
|
click to download flash player