Fitzroy Reef … day two!

We loved Fitzroy Reef.  The lagoon has a white sandy bottom, such clear water and so much reef to explore.  I had snorkeled every day for a week now I think. Was I snorkeled out yet? Nearly. If Heron Island was all about big fish, Fitzroy was about the little fish.

After a long 2-hour snorkel at Fitzroy on our second day I had a blister from the fins and my nose was running like a tap. As for my ‘boat boy’ … “That’s enough for me”, he said, “my mouth tastes like rubber, my feet are rubbing on the fins, my ears are filling up with water … that’s it!”  And he’d hardly snorkeled!!

If Heron Island was all about big fish, Fitzroy was all about the little fish …

Humbugs!

Just love the Humbugs too!

Same with the Sergeant Majors.

My favourite Blue Pullers!

A Two-banded Anemone fish.

This little guy was quite aggressive … I was not welcome!

A Butterfly-fish … but check out the Yellow Damsel … what a big breath!

When we were in New Caledonia last year I enjoyed some great snorkeling around the Gadji lagoon. Big drop-offs, coral gardens and a variety of fish.  One of my favourite snaps was of the White-maned Anemonefish and its unusual anemone. It was like a donut, with the anemone tentacles growing from the centre (I’ve included a pic below). While snorkeling at Fitzroy I was lucky enough to spot a similar anemone, once again, with the White-maned Anemonefish.  But this anemone had a deep red outer, with the green anemone tentacles growing from the centre.  Not far away I encountered a similar but bigger anemone, perhaps an older one.  These certainly make for interesting viewing.

New Caledonia 2017 … living in a magnificent sea anenome’!!

This find was a treat … a marine tomato??

An anemone with a White -maned Anemonefish family at home.

This red anemone with the White-maned Anemonefish was a real find.

Another anemone with the White-maned Anemonfish, again with two.

Catching that ‘gasp’, how lucky.

Next up, Lady Musgrave Island!