Thursday 17 October 2013

Reef (Brisbane to Hamilton Island)

Kirsten's father took Pelagos for another outing to the Great Barrier Reef and we were invited for the Brisbane to Hamilton Island section. Kirsten spent 4 days shopping, re-packing, cooking and freezing a total of 1,200 meals!!

Kirsten on her early-morning watch during the over-night trip from Brisbane to the southern tip of the reef (Capricorn and Bunker Group). Note how calm the open ocean is!!

Our first snorkel off Lady Elliot Island. Manta rays and green turtles are a common sight in this area. 


A Wobbegong or carpet shark - how good is that camouflage!

Second stop in the lagoon of Lady Musgrave Island. One of my favourite spots in the world!

The island is a small coral cay covered in Pisonia forest with over 50 species of birds!

The most common bird on the island is the Black Noddy Tern - if you don't wear a hat you get covered in guano!

Sunset drinks on the back deck. This was the last time we encountered other boats until Hamilton Island.

Lady Musgrave Lagoon and the tiny island.

Garth on the look-out for Bomboras while cruising....
 

... and the tiny Leather Jacket he caught with a wine glass!

Most of the trip was spent moving through Swain Reefs and anchoring at good snorkelling spots. Due to the fantastic weather and very calm seas we managed to snorkel twice on most days!

It's a weird feeling to be standing on a reef in the middle of nowhere with absolutely nothing above the horizon!
 

How much fresher does seafood get? Excellent shot, Garth! This lobster was huge, very beautiful and very tasty! 

David filleting a Coral Trout.

I managed to catch a bird with my bare hands. Haha! And no, I wasn't drunk, just excited.

Here, some underwater shots:







One of the many Olive Sea Snakes we encountered....

... and the omni-present reef sharks.

Natasha was making a movie and wanted to film an animal invasion. We actually had to jump off and swim in these onesies!

Some of the crew: Patrick, Mary, John, Garth, Kirsten and Natasha.
 

Thanks John and Pelagos for a fantastic trip!! 

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