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butterfly fish were making a dazzling contrast with their yellow bodies

date: 15/5/2009
Author:Nick Brennan

Weather: Overcast clearing to sunshine
Wind: SE 10-15 knots
Water Visibility: ~20 m
Sea State: Calm

The morning broke to very light winds and an overcast sky. It rapidly cleared through the morning to make for another beautiful day here at Lady Elliot.

Guests that came on the glass bottom boat had the most amazing snorkel in pond-like conditions. The lighthouse bombies proved very consistent for the green turtles again today with a very large male scratching its belly on the coral making for a humorous scene. Some younger turtles also surfaced around the boat keeping everybody very excited. At second reef there was the usual display of jaw dropping colours and activity. The butterfly fish were making a dazzling contrast with their yellow bodies against the turquoise ocean. Guests were interested in their shape that ensures good maneuverability and their protruding mouths help them to specialise in sucking out individual coral polyps. This seems like it might damage the reef but instead it actually helps to keep it very healthy as butterfly fish enjoy eating sick and dying polyps. A white tip reef shark was also in the area cruising along at a constant speed allowing guests a good amount of time to observe it.

In the afternoon guests came on the island discovery tour and were fascinated to hear that for almost one hundred years the island was completely devoid of all vegetation. The island is so full of bird life now that it is hard to imagine what it would have been like without them. Guests were also fortunate to see a pair of pied oystercatchers flying low over the lagoon.

In the evening guests came on a Night Stalk and saw lots of mutton bird chicks that had very downy coats. Everybody laughed because it gave the appearance that they all have extreme hairstyles including one that looked like it had the army style “flat top” and another with flowing “Fabio” like hair. The sky was beautiful and clear making it a perfect night for star gazing. If you live in the city it is sometimes easy to forget just how incredible the southern sky is without light pollution. Insprired by the stars guests down to the beach after the nightstalk to lie on the deck chairs and watch the shooting stars before heading to bed.

butterfly fish - J Howard