It’s so wonderful to be back in the water!
A warm and calm patch of weather over the last week has meant I’ve unexpectedly been able to enjoy my underwater world in the Bunker and Capricorn group of coral cays and islands, in the southern section of our wonderful GBR. We are now back in phone range so my latest blog post has finally appeared!
But first …
After a few days wandering around the Great Sandy Straits, visiting Tin Can Bay (don’t you love that name) and the Kingfisher Resort on Fraser Island, we hopped across Hervey Bay to Bundaberg for three nights. We caught up with Gerry and Gail on Aqualibrium, visited the laundromat (I so love having only to wash clothes when we can) and then we shopped. A big thankyou to Gerry and Gail (a Bundy local) who very kindly drove us around. We picked up some vegies from the local market gardeners. Fresh as! The word is that our locally grown lettuce will last up to 4 weeks! Will report back down the track. We also squeezed in a visit to a local seafood outlet in Bundy called Grunskes By The River for lunch. Grunskes is right on the river and we would highly recommend their seafood platter for two. This was followed by the best waffles ever in Bagara. Topping off a great day touring I also picked up a 3/2mm wetsuit. With a great weather forecast for a visit to the southern GBR I definitely wanted to get in the water … and be warm!
So with my new ‘kit’ … a mask that is now in focus (magnification), new ‘superwoman’ fins, my 3mm wetsuit (which I have so so squeezed in to and yes it might stretch but I think a few less sunset wines might help too), warm booties (these are sooo good) and a very good dose of anticipation, I was set!
I’ve also upped the anti with my camera gear this year. I’ve added an underwater housing to my Olympus TG-5 camera so I can now use a wide-angle wet lens and video light. Now I just have to learn how to use them all … but I do have time to practice!
Weather – sunshine, winds under 10 knots, low tides in the middle of the day (best time to snorkel) and several days of same.
Let’s go!!
Our first destination was to be Lady Elliot Island. Lady Elliot is on my snorkel bucket list of 2019 destinations but it will have to wait as the anchorage protection there is limited. We had a 10-15 knot forecast and a 42 nm sail to get there but the winds were gusting at 20 knots, so a joint decision was made to abort and head for Lady Musgrave Island instead. We’ve been to LM several times so we know the anchorage well and it never disappoints. It is a protected coral cay with the added bonus of an island for a walk.
My first 2019 snorkel! What a treat. We really haven’t ventured in to the water until the Whitsundays in previous years, probably as late as July. So this warm patch of weather was much appreciated.
The Humbugs, Damselfish and Butterflyfish were all there. It wasn’t long before that familiar and comfortable feeling returned. I so love the Blue-Green Pullers darting in and out of the staghorn coral, along with the shy Beaked Leatherjackets. So glad I picked up the wetsuit … and my booties!
Of course … the sunsets out here are magical …
Good to see you are underway and going underwater too!