Thu 1st Jul '21 - Day 20

Coral Bay

 

Another 27-degree day forthcoming and another day with no driving. We ready ourselves in the morning for a 2-hour snorkel boat cruise on a glass bottom boat from 10am which leaves form right off the beach in front of our caravan park. There’s 22 of us on the boat, seats down both edges and 5 large glass panels along the bottom, down the middle.

We motor 10 minutes around the headland – the first thing you notice viewing through the glass is that the sea never gets any deeper; all the way you can clearly see the coral and patches of sand just a couple of metres or less in many places, below us – and moor up and flop out into the water. One of the two boat crew comes in the water to lead a little tour whilst the skipper clambers onto the boat’s roof to keep an eye on proceedings.

Unfortunately, after not long in the water, both Sienna and Seb decide they want out so Kate joins them on the boat whilst I snorkel around, generally looking at more of what we’ve seen so far, but in greater abundance; there’s more evidence here of coral growing on top of growing which has grown on top of more coral, so its perhaps more 3D than the coral off the beach.

All back on the boat we head out West towards the inner edge of the reef than it is protecting the bay; here the swell is greater as the Indian Ocean waves are crashing on to the reef edges only 100m away. Again, we more up and as the skipper is describing the area as a fish highway which leads him to talk of sharks. If they’re the length of me that’s fine, he says, go check them out as they’ll only swim away. If they’re larger than the boat or start swimming in circles around you I’ll eat my hat. Easy for him to say when he’s the one staying onboard.

But there are no shark sightings in the water even with the excellent visibility. Of note, above and beyond all the “normal” coral fish we do find one turtle going about his day and the makes everyone happy. The highest concentration of fish is actually found right under the boat and they’re quick to assemble there as soon as the boat is stationary.

On the ride back to the main beach the skipper relates various facts and stories about the coral as well as keeping a watchful eye on the coral that is 5m high in places and only just beneath the surface of the water.

Back on dry land we have lunch at the campervan, buy a couple of souvenirs and stock up on supplies for the next 36 hours and head back to the beach for more splashing around and sandcastle building. After showering we take on a final Happy Hour at Bill’s and have dinner at Fin’s; a restaurant attached to our caravan park. Three burgers & chips for everyone else and seafood bonanza for me. Another big night has us all asleep by 8:30pm.