Road Trip Day 21 - Coral Bay Day 2
Apr. 3rd, 2011 12:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
gemfyre23/3/2011
Well. Today I went serious snorkelling. And it was amazing and I want to do it again!!
The tour I went on can accommodate up to 40 people, but our group consisted of 10 people. I was the only 'local' on board, the others were from Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany – I told you this place is chokkers with European tourists.
I explained that my knee was a bit dodgy and Jacqui, one of the guides didn't seem at all worried about the fact. She found me some fins that fitted and told me I was going to need them when we got to the Manta Rays. I figured hey, I'll give them a shot.
We all hopped on a bus and headed out to the jetty, where loads of baitfish were hanging around the pier and occasionally all jumping out of the water. Our first stop was an area for a practice snorkel, seeing as there were a few people on the boat not that experienced (myself included). The reef was just amazing. I got used to the goggles and snorkel quickly, new snorkels have a valve on them that makes expelling any water pretty easy and I was constantly practising clearing it out, it would take about 5 sharp blows to completely clear the snorkel. The fins were a different matter. At first I was kicking from the hips as instructed, and using my arms to propel myself through the water. I thought I was moving along quite nicely but when I poked my head above the water I realised I'd barely moved at all. Hrm. It didn't really matter, you could just float on the currents and the view would still be amazing. The water in this area was very calm and the coral deep enough down that there was no risk of scraping along it. Eventually we had to get back on the boat though to go and find the Manta Rays. While we waited morning tea was served.
The last few days the rays had been hanging around the point. Apparently on the full moon they go to a cleaning station there for their “day spas”, where cleaner wrasses and various other fish pick parasites and crud from the ray's bodies. It would seem that they had left the area though, so the spotter plane was sent up. In a matter of minutes a group of about 10 rays was spotted not far off so the skipper gunned the motors and we were there in a jiffy.
For the mantas Aaron, the lead diver went in first and began following a ray and then everyone else would quickly and quietly get in the water and swim like mad after him. Jacqui dragged a float after her so the weaker swimmers (including me) could grab on and get a bit of a lift. Unfortunately this meant we were at the back of the group, and because the water was so murky with plankton (the reason the rays were in the area) we couldn't see a thing. We were getting better views of them from the boat. Aaron tried again with another ray and again, it was a bit of a dud, the ray took off into the murk.
The third go was the charm. There were about 6 rays in the area, all doing barrel rolls as they corralled up plankton to eat. These ones seemed completely unfazed by our presence. It was about this time that I got the knack of the flippers – a slight knee action was also required to get some movement, and off I went after the others. It wasn't long though before we all kind of mingled in the area, because you'd be following one ray, and all of a sudden another would rise from the murk directly beneath you. It was quite amazing, these guys are about 4-5 metres across! Again, it seemed too soon that we were summoned back to the boat for the next stop – the turtle sanctuary.
This is not my footage - I just grabbed it from YouTube. This is essentially what I was seeing though.
The turtle sanctuary is a very shallow area near the surf break. The water is crystal clear and we saw plenty of turtles. Snorkelling is not permitted here however. We soon ended up at our last snorkel site, a place called the Maze – an area of coral bombies and sandy patches right near the surf break that was also frequented by turtles. It was much choppier here, being so near the breaking waves. We ate lunch first (only one person on the boat was unfortunate enough to get seasick) then hopped in for the last dive. We only saw one turtle here, but it was still bloody amazing. Some food was being thrown in for the fish and the variety was amazing. Some of the fish had every colour of the rainbow on them. By this time I'd become a lot more confident and was able to swim a decent distance and was even starting to get the hang of steering. It was a bit weird swimming over the stands of staghorn, I had a weird feeling I was going to fall on them – of course I wouldn't because I was floating. But it all looked so close, when it was probably about at least a metre out of my reach even in the shallowest parts. At this site I also caught a brief glimpse of a sea snake before it disappeared below a shelf coral. Again, we were called back. It was time to head back to shore and another boat was waiting to use our mooring point.
Again, not my footage. This is a long video but it gives you a good idea of what you see whenever you stick your head underwater around here.
I think I am a bit addicted to this snorkelling business now. I might have to get my own gear when I get back to Perth and check out Point Peron and Rottnest and Busselton Jetty and wherever else looks interesting.
Me being a bit of an idiot put sunscreen on while I had my shorts on, and subsequently my upper legs are a bit red now. The tour provided long-sleeved rashees however, so my upper half was protected.
I spent some time in and beside the pool before wandering back over the hut at 3:30 to see the photos from the day. I could have got a disc of them for $30, but honestly they just seemed like standard Coral Bay photos that you can find online. When I return I might have to get myself a waterproof camera. ;) Until then you'll just have to come up here and see it for yourself. I'd love to come with you!
I returned to my swag to find a car very close to my site (on a closer look, the sites are pretty narrow). I think it had driven over the guy rope on my swag. I don't think this was the cause however of two of the middle poles on my swag bending. The centre one had completely snapped and the end one is at an odd angle. I have a feeling the heat of the day (my site has no shade) just melted them and they have warped. I should be able to manage until I get home, when I will get replacements – apparently this is an issue with Mitchell swags.
The nextdoor neighbours returned – 4 girls, speaking what sounds like German. They are kinda encroaching on my site which I'm not impressed with, but they aren't really in the way. They just better not be too noisy after I go to bed. I'm heading off tomorrow anyway.
My lamp also seems to be on the blink. This may be due to it losing charge though. I will try to charge it in the car tomorrow.
Okay, time a for a shower and lots of aloe on my sunburn. Carnarvon tomorrow, then Kalbarri, then Dongara, then HOME! This trip has been awesome, but I'm really looking forward to be able to sit around and not be attacked by bugs or worry about getting sunburned, or sit around sweating profusely. I'm also getting pretty lonely and want familiar company again.
23/3/2011 (Coral Bay, various Snorkel Sites, Maud's Landing)
Australian Pipit
Banded Lapwing
Budgerigar (H)
Caspian Tern
Crested Pigeon
Crested Tern
Eastern Reef Egret
Gull-billed Tern
Magpie Lark
Nankeen Kestrel
Pied Butcherbird
Pied Cormorant
Pied Oystercatcher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Rufous Songlark
Singing Honeyeater
Welcome Swallow
White-winged Fairy-wren
Yellow-throated Miner
Zebra Finch
Not many photos today, as I spent most of it underwater, but here are the rest.
Well. Today I went serious snorkelling. And it was amazing and I want to do it again!!
The tour I went on can accommodate up to 40 people, but our group consisted of 10 people. I was the only 'local' on board, the others were from Slovakia, Switzerland and Germany – I told you this place is chokkers with European tourists.
I explained that my knee was a bit dodgy and Jacqui, one of the guides didn't seem at all worried about the fact. She found me some fins that fitted and told me I was going to need them when we got to the Manta Rays. I figured hey, I'll give them a shot.
 |
|
| Coral Bay Ningaloo is a fringing reef - which means it begins very close to shore and ends a few hundred metres to a few kilometres offshore - the wave break marks the delineation clearly. Beyond this the water becomes deeper - this is whale shark territory - it's a lot more expensive to venture out there. |
We all hopped on a bus and headed out to the jetty, where loads of baitfish were hanging around the pier and occasionally all jumping out of the water. Our first stop was an area for a practice snorkel, seeing as there were a few people on the boat not that experienced (myself included). The reef was just amazing. I got used to the goggles and snorkel quickly, new snorkels have a valve on them that makes expelling any water pretty easy and I was constantly practising clearing it out, it would take about 5 sharp blows to completely clear the snorkel. The fins were a different matter. At first I was kicking from the hips as instructed, and using my arms to propel myself through the water. I thought I was moving along quite nicely but when I poked my head above the water I realised I'd barely moved at all. Hrm. It didn't really matter, you could just float on the currents and the view would still be amazing. The water in this area was very calm and the coral deep enough down that there was no risk of scraping along it. Eventually we had to get back on the boat though to go and find the Manta Rays. While we waited morning tea was served.
The last few days the rays had been hanging around the point. Apparently on the full moon they go to a cleaning station there for their “day spas”, where cleaner wrasses and various other fish pick parasites and crud from the ray's bodies. It would seem that they had left the area though, so the spotter plane was sent up. In a matter of minutes a group of about 10 rays was spotted not far off so the skipper gunned the motors and we were there in a jiffy.
For the mantas Aaron, the lead diver went in first and began following a ray and then everyone else would quickly and quietly get in the water and swim like mad after him. Jacqui dragged a float after her so the weaker swimmers (including me) could grab on and get a bit of a lift. Unfortunately this meant we were at the back of the group, and because the water was so murky with plankton (the reason the rays were in the area) we couldn't see a thing. We were getting better views of them from the boat. Aaron tried again with another ray and again, it was a bit of a dud, the ray took off into the murk.
The third go was the charm. There were about 6 rays in the area, all doing barrel rolls as they corralled up plankton to eat. These ones seemed completely unfazed by our presence. It was about this time that I got the knack of the flippers – a slight knee action was also required to get some movement, and off I went after the others. It wasn't long though before we all kind of mingled in the area, because you'd be following one ray, and all of a sudden another would rise from the murk directly beneath you. It was quite amazing, these guys are about 4-5 metres across! Again, it seemed too soon that we were summoned back to the boat for the next stop – the turtle sanctuary.
This is not my footage - I just grabbed it from YouTube. This is essentially what I was seeing though.
The turtle sanctuary is a very shallow area near the surf break. The water is crystal clear and we saw plenty of turtles. Snorkelling is not permitted here however. We soon ended up at our last snorkel site, a place called the Maze – an area of coral bombies and sandy patches right near the surf break that was also frequented by turtles. It was much choppier here, being so near the breaking waves. We ate lunch first (only one person on the boat was unfortunate enough to get seasick) then hopped in for the last dive. We only saw one turtle here, but it was still bloody amazing. Some food was being thrown in for the fish and the variety was amazing. Some of the fish had every colour of the rainbow on them. By this time I'd become a lot more confident and was able to swim a decent distance and was even starting to get the hang of steering. It was a bit weird swimming over the stands of staghorn, I had a weird feeling I was going to fall on them – of course I wouldn't because I was floating. But it all looked so close, when it was probably about at least a metre out of my reach even in the shallowest parts. At this site I also caught a brief glimpse of a sea snake before it disappeared below a shelf coral. Again, we were called back. It was time to head back to shore and another boat was waiting to use our mooring point.
Again, not my footage. This is a long video but it gives you a good idea of what you see whenever you stick your head underwater around here.
I think I am a bit addicted to this snorkelling business now. I might have to get my own gear when I get back to Perth and check out Point Peron and Rottnest and Busselton Jetty and wherever else looks interesting.
Me being a bit of an idiot put sunscreen on while I had my shorts on, and subsequently my upper legs are a bit red now. The tour provided long-sleeved rashees however, so my upper half was protected.
I spent some time in and beside the pool before wandering back over the hut at 3:30 to see the photos from the day. I could have got a disc of them for $30, but honestly they just seemed like standard Coral Bay photos that you can find online. When I return I might have to get myself a waterproof camera. ;) Until then you'll just have to come up here and see it for yourself. I'd love to come with you!
I returned to my swag to find a car very close to my site (on a closer look, the sites are pretty narrow). I think it had driven over the guy rope on my swag. I don't think this was the cause however of two of the middle poles on my swag bending. The centre one had completely snapped and the end one is at an odd angle. I have a feeling the heat of the day (my site has no shade) just melted them and they have warped. I should be able to manage until I get home, when I will get replacements – apparently this is an issue with Mitchell swags.
The nextdoor neighbours returned – 4 girls, speaking what sounds like German. They are kinda encroaching on my site which I'm not impressed with, but they aren't really in the way. They just better not be too noisy after I go to bed. I'm heading off tomorrow anyway.
My lamp also seems to be on the blink. This may be due to it losing charge though. I will try to charge it in the car tomorrow.
Okay, time a for a shower and lots of aloe on my sunburn. Carnarvon tomorrow, then Kalbarri, then Dongara, then HOME! This trip has been awesome, but I'm really looking forward to be able to sit around and not be attacked by bugs or worry about getting sunburned, or sit around sweating profusely. I'm also getting pretty lonely and want familiar company again.
23/3/2011 (Coral Bay, various Snorkel Sites, Maud's Landing)
Australian Pipit
Banded Lapwing
Budgerigar (H)
Caspian Tern
Crested Pigeon
Crested Tern
Eastern Reef Egret
Gull-billed Tern
Magpie Lark
Nankeen Kestrel
Pied Butcherbird
Pied Cormorant
Pied Oystercatcher
Rainbow Bee-eater
Rufous Songlark
Singing Honeyeater
Welcome Swallow
White-winged Fairy-wren
Yellow-throated Miner
Zebra Finch
Not many photos today, as I spent most of it underwater, but here are the rest.
