Distance today zero
Today we woke with trepidation - would it continue to rain and be overcast? It turned out to be a fine sunny day with only a few clouds. We got up and after ablutions made our way to the local bakery for brekky. Afterwards we tried on our wet suits and flippers at Coral Bay Adventures in preparation for our boat trip to snorkel with the Whale Sharks. We had talked to a chap last night who told us that he had missed out on the Whale Sharks that day and that was the first day for a month they hadn't turned up.
No fish were spotted so we went back inside the reef for lunch. By this time many people were feeling a bit queasy due to the swell so lunch was the last thing on their mind. After lunch we did spot more snorkelling. I had sorted out my technique by this time including liberally smearing my moustache with vaseline to help seal the mask. I had a great time for over 1/2 hour watching the amazing procession for multi-coloured fish swimming around the coral. The coral was not very impressive as it was generally dull and grey, but it was like being in an aquarium. I tried to remember the colours of the fish I saw and when I got back to the boat looked them up in a book, but it was very difficult to remember them at all. I was thinking this snorkelling lark isn't too hard after all.
Total 7164 km
Today we woke with trepidation - would it continue to rain and be overcast? It turned out to be a fine sunny day with only a few clouds. We got up and after ablutions made our way to the local bakery for brekky. Afterwards we tried on our wet suits and flippers at Coral Bay Adventures in preparation for our boat trip to snorkel with the Whale Sharks. We had talked to a chap last night who told us that he had missed out on the Whale Sharks that day and that was the first day for a month they hadn't turned up.We set off with a large party of 20 (including many from the day before). First stop was a nearby coral reef so that everyone could get their gear sorted. Alan and I soon realised that our snorkelling skills were pretty wick (the opposite of wicked). I nearly drowned by sucking water through my snorkel and had to be rescued by a nice sort and Alan was getting swept away on the current and was also rescued by another nice sort. We got ourselves readjusted and set off for a bit of coral gazing. I had to give up soon as I had a gut full of seawater and Alan continued to drift off in the current due to lack of forward propulsion.
The spotter plane went up to look for Whale Sharks and we made our way through the reef to the open sea. The swell was much greater and Elliot describe in graphic detail how we had to leap off in groups of 10, swimming like blazes to keep up with the Whale Sharks and then leap back on board while the other group went after the Whale Sharks-all in the considerably rougher open water. Alan and I were feeling a bit apprehensive at this stage.
We cruised around outside the reef waiting for the spotter plane to find a Whale Shark. These are the worlds biggest fish but unlike white pointers only eat Krill not people, like a whale. They can grow up to 18m long but are gentle giants.
No fish were spotted so we went back inside the reef for lunch. By this time many people were feeling a bit queasy due to the swell so lunch was the last thing on their mind. After lunch we did spot more snorkelling. I had sorted out my technique by this time including liberally smearing my moustache with vaseline to help seal the mask. I had a great time for over 1/2 hour watching the amazing procession for multi-coloured fish swimming around the coral. The coral was not very impressive as it was generally dull and grey, but it was like being in an aquarium. I tried to remember the colours of the fish I saw and when I got back to the boat looked them up in a book, but it was very difficult to remember them at all. I was thinking this snorkelling lark isn't too hard after all.We continued inside the reef waiting for the call from the spotter plane, but it was pretty obvious that there weren't any to be found. We watched some pods of dolphins. Then the Captain said he could take us to a place where there were sure to be Manta Rays and we could swim with them instead. Suddenly it was all go and Group 1, which I was part of was sitting on the back of the boat ready to slip in and chase a Manta Ray. I was a bit late getting in due to having to grease up my moustache. The group shot off and try as I might I wasn't getting any closer and was starting to suffer cramp in my left leg. My new snorkelling technique went out the window and I started to suck in water again and generally get in a panic. The boat came round and they hauled me out of the water like a drowning whale!
Anyway it was a nice (if expensive) day out on the water. There was no way we could have coped with swimming with the Whale Sharks. Because none turned up we were given a free return trip valid for 3 years. Alan and I plan to come back but after we have learnt how to snorkel and swim faster!
More worrying is the weather. Rain continues to be predicted in the Kimberley, but drying up by Saturday. Hopefully this will be enough time for the GRR to be graded and reopened other wise we will be coming back to do that as well.
Tomorrow we head off to Karijini Nat Park for a bit of gorge swimming. There has been plenty of rain there too and the road into the park has been closed. I bought a pair of wet-suit bootees to help in the gorge exploring on the advice of a nice sort at the dive shop once she saw my black brogues!
We're learning a lot on this trip.
Keep up the blogs guys, good to be reading about the adventures. Shame about the manta ray dad, you'll have to get your swimming technique sorted. Sounds like you'll have plenty of practice (on sea and land given the weather) Any plans to stop in Monkey Maya?
ReplyDeleteLachlan