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white capped noddy’s are also back on the island in great abundance
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date: 12/9/2009
Author:Nick Brennan
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Weather: Sunshine
Air Temp: 25ºC
Wind: South East 10- 15 knots
Water Temp: 23ºC
Water Visibility: 20m
Sea State: Calm
What a great time of year it is here at Lady Elliot Island. The weather is of the sort that you can do whatever you like, it’s not too hot, it is certainly not too cold, lots of sunshine and very light favourable winds. The white capped noddy’s are also back on the island in great abundance ready for nesting season and are creating a great ambience over the island.
Some guests did the climate change trail to take in the beautiful morning and expand their knowledge on the great challenge to humanity that is global warming. They were astounded to learn that the ocean has become slightly more acidic due to the increase in atmospheric carbon dioxide. Although it is only marginally more acidic it has been enough to slow corals from producing their skeleton by 30%!!! They found this completely terrifying as most corals grow so slowly.
The divers meanwhile had a sensational morning in the water relishing in the abundance of wildlife. The group encountered loads of Manta Rays around anchor bommie, and as they progressed south the mantas kept on coming, gliding just above the sea floor and very close to guests. Also on the dive guests saw a white tipped reef shark and a shovel nose shark. You might say it was a great day for the elasmobranches!
After dinner guests came on a Night Reef Walk. The wind came up making it a little difficult to see some of the creature’s among the coral but with their keen eyesight they made some exciting discoveries. The first was a big red hermit crab that was living in a tun shell and had furry claws. It made a great photograph. Very well camouflaged was a small honey cowrie. Guests were amazed at how shiny and perfect its shell appeared and the guide explained that the little animal extends a mantle completely around its body when it is grazing and that keeps the surface polished. A bit further along guests came across two very beautiful abalones with vastly different colouration. When they were put under torch light they both made a run for it and everybody was surprised the speed that they left the scene. Coming back to shore guests were lucky to see a bright red nudibranch creeping across the coral. Its colour was vivid and the guide explained some of the fascinating facts about these specialized little creatures |
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white capped noddy - J Howard
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