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Tuesday - manta rays circling at dive safety stop
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date: 23/9/2008
Author:Laura Smith
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Sunny and warm | Air Temp: 26.6°C | Wind Speed: NE 5/10 knots | Water Temp: 22°C | Water Visibility: ~ 25 m | Sea State: Calm and clear
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
Last night’s Reef Bingo was a hit for the young and old. The bar area was alive with the excitement of guests with just 3…2…1… bingo places to go on their boards. With the reef twist that is characteristic of most activities here on Lady Elliot, guests left knowing a little bit more about our fantastic surroundings and enthused to explore both above and below our turquoise sea. Thirteen-year-old Caitlin must have had birthday luck, winning 2 out of 3 rounds.
This morning’s dive began at The Blowhole. What an amazing undersea structure this is! Fourteen metres below the surface a gaping cavern opens downwards in the reef. Divers are swallowed into a shadow as they descend into this swim-through. The feeling is awesome, eerie and wonderful to emerge from the relative darkness of The Blowhole and onto the base of a 25-metre high coral wall. This wall is well known as a great area to spot large and exciting marine creatures, and today was no exception, with turtles, a wobbegong and a silvertip shark all making appearances, and to keep divers entertained on their safety stop, there were 4 magnificent manta rays circling below.
The snorkel safari set off after lunch. Thirteen snorkellers were taken by boat to Spider’s Ledge and dropped off for the beginning of their adventure. A swift current carried them all the way down the western side of the island, where they encountered a massive cod, lovely turtles, and a graceful manta, and so many, many different fish!! One of the highlights of this safari, however, was not something that could be seen, but something that was heard – the song of migrating humpback whales filled the water. Water carries sound very well, so although the whales could have been tens or even hundreds of kilometers away, their presence was felt closely throughout the snorkeling adventure.
Fish feeding today happened to coincide with the high tide, and who should turn up but a big male green sea turtle! Guests were delighted by this unexpected visitor, who swam past no more than 10 metres from the lapping shore.
Glass bottom boat guests were intrigued this morning by another massive green turtle that surfaced right next to the boat. He stayed there for at least 10 minutes, taking breaths then looking below him - a bit like a snorkeller! Other interesting creatures encountered today included a giant school of Big-eye Trevally, masses of Blue-green Chromis, and an octopus.
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Blowhole - Mark Atkinson
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