We motored across Hervey Bay to Urangan this morning in dead calm conditions. Saw lots of whales, turtles and dolphins…
Yvonne left the boat today and I did a bit of re-provisioning. Tonight I will sail/motor solo down the Great Sandy Strait to Tin Can Bay!
We motor-sailed across to Hervey Bay today and anchored at Rooney Point, just behind Sandy Cape at the northern tip of Fraser Island.
Soon after we dropped anchor a chap and his young son came over from the beach in a dinghy. “You’ll see a lot of whales here tonight” he said, “they sleep here…”.
He was not wrong. Yvonne and I heard it at the same time – the chatting of the whales, big and small, all around the boat. Next there came the occasional, explosive, exhalation, mere meters away from us… Oh, and the occasional “bloop, bloop, bloop…” noises – no idea what those are!
It was like being in the whales’ home at dinner/bed time… A couple of hours after dark it was all quiet and peaceful. An experience that will stay with me forever…
Kevin came around to take us to the little quay again – I declined so he and Yvonne set off.
They had a lovely walk around (I’m told) during which Kevin proposed to Yvonne a change of scenery (errr… ship). Yvonne gracefully declined and no harm was done! We had a great dinner with Kevin that evening and Kevin was philosophical: “… if you don’t ask…” and “… where I come from ‘No’ usually means at least a wrestle… ” (!).
We had a great time, sharing life stories and knocking back enough coldies to sink a small ship! By bed time we were ferried back in instalments, the nor’ easter pumping up to 15 knots and whipping up a light chop, enough to unsettle a slightly inebriated small-boat skipper!
This day will remain memorable for two reasons:
Kevin took us around the fringing reef and showed us a great spot to dive. We motored over and dropped the anchor about 50 meters away.
We first went snorkeling just before low tide. Then, at low tide, I donned my scuba gear and we went back, me with scuba and Yvonne snorkelling. As I was scuba diving alone we stayed inside the lagoon in water up to 5 meters deep, always within easy snorkelling depth. It was great to stay down below though and I have lovely photos taken with my el-cheapo underwater camera from Hong Kong (I love EBay!). The photos speak for themselves – I need to do some research to add names to the fish…
Entrance to the hole in the reef where we snorkeled
Angel Fish (and others) on reef
More fish…
Trumpet Fish in warm water at the reef edge
Awesome experience… more fish!