We were once again collected from Exmouth and headed off to the Bundegi Jetty to get to the dive boat. We headed north for about an hour stopping intermittantly to take in the delights of breaching humpback whales in our path.
Humpback WhalesHumpback Whale Fluke
When we arrived at Murion Islands, our first stop was on the north of the first island.
Murion Islands Map
After descending down the mooring line and heading over to the coral bombies the frist thing we we shown were the most amazing fern corals extending out from the soft coral outcrops.
Fern Corasl
The coral bombies were crouded with life including Queen Angelfish…
Queen Angelfish
We explored the range of canyons and coral shelves to get the most of the spectacular scenery.
Canyon
This also our first close encounter with a sea snake. There were a fair few around. Every few minutes they would head up to the surface for a breath and then dive down to the sandy floor to then head out under the overhangs in search of the next meal.
Sea Snake
After surfacing, we then headed of around to the other side of then island for the second dive…
We travelled a little further up the coast and moored again at our next site for the day.
Ningaloo Reef Double Dive Map
This site is marked out by a large coral ledge at the centre of the dive area with a multitude of limestone caverns and coral ledges around to explore.
Follwing the mooring line down to the sand shelf at about 10m depth, we encountered what we believe to be a very well camoflagued wobbygong under one of the ledges. It was about 1m long, but wedged so well under the ledge I wasn’t able to get any good pictures of it.
We moved away from the mooring line and headed over to the large coralledge at the centre of the site.
Cod under ledge
Swimming around the left side of the site, we got to see plenty of life.
DiversClam
This interesting pair never seperated by more than a few centimeters in the whole time I was watching them.
Pair of Yellow Tails
Some of the coral formations were amazing and look so fragile.
Green Tree Coral
My buddy and I were then treated by a fly past from a Manta Ray.
Manta Ray
It circled around us and then came back again a few minutes later for another look!
This guy looks like he was very comfortable using a coral bowl as a place to rest.
My Couch
There was a large turtle that was hanging around on his favourite piece of rock.
Turtle HeadTurtle
While touring the right hand circle, we were followed around by this rather friendly sea snake.
Sea Snake
At this point, my camera battery died, but I was able to persuade it to try again to get this final shot of an octopus that was hiding under a limestone outcrop.
Octapus
Not the best photo in the world! I will try better next time!
Having been picked up in Exmouth, a short bus ride later and we were at Bundegi Jetty to get the small tender over to our Ningaloo Reef dive boat for the day. Today’s sites are on the North end of the spit.
Ningaloo Reef Double Dive Map
After a boat trip around the point for about 40 minutes, punctuated by frequent Humpback Whale sightings, we arrived at our first dive site. Jumping in the water, we then headed to the mooring line to descend. Following the line down to the bottom at around 12m depth we were treated with the first sight of the day. A lion fish was sitting quite happily under the concrete block that holds the mooring in place.
Lion Fish
Once we were all together at the bottom, we headed out along the line of the reef moving against the current. The life of the reef was amazing.
Cat FishCodJeuvenile Butterfly FishJeuvenile Yellow Tail SnapperNingaloo Reef SceneNudibrach Red and GreenQueen Angel FishSpotted Puffer FishYellow Tail Snapper
I am never sure that photographs really to justice to the increadible abundance of activity on the reef so here is a video. The quality isn’t great, but it shows how the fish collect together and appear to be connected!
While I appreciate that this post is neither about scuba diving, nor is it in Perth, WA, for the next few days I am on a trip to Exmouth to explore the delights of the World Heritage listed Ningaloo Reef.
Today was booked as a Whale Shark swimming experience, but as they haven’t seen Whale Sharks here for over two weeks, the season is now pretty much over. Two years ago, the Western Australian Government started allowing licensed Whale Shark Swim companies to extend the season by offering the oportunity to swim with the Humpback Whales. The Humpback Whales start their southerly migration and head for Antartica a month or so later than the Whale Sharks. The program is experimental at this stage and while the engagement rules are clearly defined by the department, the reality of swimming with them is yet to be perfected (as we learned today).
Having been picked up from Exmouth, we headed over to the Western side of the spit where Ningaloo Reef winds it’s way down to Coral Bay in the South. In the Jurabi Coastal Park is the Tantabiddi Boat Ramp which is where all the Whale Shark boats go out from into the Ningaloo Reef.
Humpback Whale Swim Map
First stop was an orientation snorkel, to the North of the boat ramp and on the outer side of the reef.
Yellow Stripey ShoalPink CoralGreen Coral Ball
Then back on the boat to follow the Humpback Whales that had already been spotted by the spotter planes to the North of our snorkeling site.
It wasn’t long before we saw the distinctive spouts of the Humpbacks and then we kept watch as they headed along in front of our boat, spouting and breaching every few minutes.
Humpback Whale SpoutHumpback Whale Breaching
Then we got ready to go in. The skipper brought the boat around so that we were in their path and we slid into the water off the back of the boat. With visibility at about 25m and the whales probably 50m away,we couldn’t see anything except for the blue water! Duck your head under water though and you could hear them as loud as if they were right on top of us. After swimming for a few minutes, the skipper signalled us backon board as they had dived and gone right past.
We had three more goes with a similar experience and then when we were just about to get back up the steps from the marlin board at the back of the boat, the yell came out that we were going in again for another try.
This time we finned out quickly in the direction we were being pointed in by the guys left on the boat. We could hear the sound just getting louder and louder and then a low vibration that went straight through you. There it was! Right in front of us, nose down to the sandy bottom with it’s fluke coming back up to only about 5m below the surface.
Humpback Whale Nose Down
The Humpback then levelled out at the bottom and swam straight underneath us.
Humpback Whale Below
It was then our turn to spot on the boat while the others had a go at swimming. After about five goes without any luck, we started to head back home. Then just as we had about given up, we saw a pod of four Whales heading across in front of the boat. Having tired out the other group they called out for two more people to join them so I grabbed the camera and jumped in as well. I was lucky enough to experience another encouter with these majestic creatures. This one was quite a bit bigger (and louder) than the one earlier and quite a bit deeper. As the whale past beneath us, it turned on it’s side as if to see what we were doing, invading it’s world. Unfortunately, it was all to quick to get any photographic evidence second time around. I need to get myself that mask mounted Go-Pro that I have been coveting.
To cap it off, after lunch, we took to the water again to do a drift snorkel over a patch of shallow reef.
Mauve Coral
Just to complete the experience we saw this turtle as we floated along!
Green Turtle
Tomorrow I head out onto the Ningaloo Reef to do a double dive with http://diveningaloo.com.au/. See you then…
