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The Manta Rays were feeding on the surface around the lighthouse bommies
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date: 26/7/2009
Author:Nick Brennan
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Weather: Sunshine with periodic showers
Air Temp: C
Wind: SE/E 5-10 knots
Water Temp: 21C
Water Visibility: 20 m
Sea State: Calm
It was a funny old morning with some showers and drizzly grey weather before clearing by about 9am and turning into a spectacular day!
Conditions were superb to get out and experience the reef and those that came on the glass bottom boat had an absolute treat. The Manta Rays were feeding on the surface around the lighthouse bommies giving guests a fantastic thrill. With the clear water it was very easy to observe their body shape and their cephalic lobes curled into an O-shape to concentrate the plankton into their mouths. The reef looked brilliant in the sunlight and snorkellers had beaming smiles after their dip in the water. The banded humbug was a very cute little fish that people enjoyed. It sits just above the branching corals and when they perceive a predator to be around they all duck back in and seek refuge.
The glass bottom boat then steamed out to the severance shipwreck. The severance sank in 1999. The ship is now covered in beautiful soft corals, hosts an incredible range of fish including a giant moray eel and is our newest dive location. Guests could observe the ship through glass bottom boat and thought it looked a bit eerie being in such deep water.
On the island discovery tour guests loved the red tailed tropic bird. It is a very impressive species characterised by having a long red streamer feather. We are very lucky to have them on this island and guests were amazed at how close this impressive bird could be observed.
The rain came in again in the evening so everybody enjoyed the hot buffet dinner and had a drink. After dinner the rain cleared up and guests came on the night stalk. The rain had moistened the ground and the green tree frogs were having a ball leaping around in the grass. They were very cute and looked great in guests photos. It was a really nice way to end a great day on the reef.
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Rays - Shay Young
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