Showing posts with label reefs. Show all posts
Showing posts with label reefs. Show all posts

Friday, 28 November 2014

Boobies at Michaelmas Cay


WARNING: TWITCHER CONTENT

We picked up one of two public moorings at Michaelmas Cay, dodging around a few shallow coral bommies on the approach. Some practical Marine Parks' person has thoughtfully placed the moorings just outside the range where the booby guano really starts to really get on the nose.
Michaelmas Cay - a booby.

Tuesday, 25 November 2014

Finding Nemo - Photos from Escape Reef, Tongue Reef, Michaelmas Cay

A week of fine weather to explore the reefs east of Port Douglas and Cairns - October 6th-13th. Here are a few favourite photos. No doubt the Captain will follow up with a couple of words.
Second Mate (often reserved in his praise) thinks Tongue Reef is "alright"

In which we visit Endeavour Reef



Endeavour Reef - Cape Tribulation to the south west.
After picking up "The Rock" in Cooktown, a week of calm weather was predicted - a perfect opportunity to visit the reefs, of which there are no shortage between Cooktown and Cairns. We headed out to Cairns Reef via Osterland Reef to anchor overnight. This was a very comfortable anchorage in the 15-20 knot southeasterly, a natural harbour protected on 3 sides by reef. With the wind still up though, the visibility wasn't great for snorkelling. A really big dolphin came and swam upside down in our bow wave for about 500m. He had a few chunks out of his dorsal fin, possibly from close encounters with boats, but didn't seem at all deterred.