reef magic

After sitting out a rather long and unpleasant SE blow in the Whitsundays, we finally set sail north … via the outer reef. Yay! 

A week of brilliant reef weather was on the horizon.  Our new Starlink kit (internet) arrived at Airlie Beach thanks to our good friends from home, who happened to be caravanning in Townsville (where we chose to send the kit). The reef was going to be the perfect place to try Starlink, especially for weather updates.

A plan was hatched, with Vivacious and Chances joining us. A short stopover at Gloucester Passage was our jump-off point, with Faith and Darley Reefs our first two (new) destinations, followed by Little Broadhurst Reef. We then hoped to visit maybe Davies, Stanley or Keeper Reefs depending on how long this reef weather lasted, then Magnetic Island, where we could hide from the predicted wind change later in the week.

It was a VERY “stupid o’clock” start at 4 am from Gloucester, as we had a 48 nm passage to reach Faith Reef. We wanted a lunchish arrival so we could clearly see our approach to the anchorage we had identified on our satellite program and there was then time to take advantage of the low tide in the middle of the day. A perfect time for a snorkeling photographer!

Wow! Faith Reef was beautiful. The sun was shining and the water sparkling. We anchored in three to five metre depths in crystal clear water over white sand, our three boats in two lagoons. We were surrounded by close bommies and fringing coral reef so there was lots to explore. 

The different shades of turquoise are best seen from the air, as per my photographs below. You don’t realise just how expansive these reefs are until you see them from above.

I snorkeled straight from The Bossa, my favourite way to explore on my own.

These photos were taken in the reef directly behind The Bossa (seen in the first photo above).

Here’s a slideshow … remember to scroll through using the <> buttons …

We spent two nights at Faith Reef in perfect conditions, with very little wind. We all loved it. It was a fishing zone but we were amazed at just how many big fish there were, along with a variety of smaller juvenile fish. The coral was in good condition too, offering patches of stunning colour, particularly the Staghorn and Lettuce Leaf corals (I’m sure you can guess which coral this one is). It was all so close.

We invited Vivacious and Chances over for dinner for fish tacos … we just needed the fish! Kevin very kindly offered to help. ‘What type of fish?’, he asked. Well, it’s always coral trout for mine. He returned 5 mins later with a speared coral trout! 

I haven’t photographed these little tiny critters for a while but after seeing such a variety of colours at Faith Reef, they turn out to be well and truly on my radar over the next week … Christmas Tree Worms. 

They are a perfect subject for a snorkeling photographer as they tend to be in the shallows soaking in the sunlight. If I get between the worm and the sunlight, they promptly retreat in to their burrow. Their festive crowns are so pretty, there’s always two and such a variety of colours. They are tiny. I usually try for the 2cm ones as it’s all about the focus. There’s usually more misses than hits, but I’m happy if I get just one that is in close and in full focus. That’s what’s so good about digital cameras! (Click-on each photo for a larger view.)

We didn’t want to leave Faith Reef but we had to continue moving north with this weather window. 

Next stop, Darley Reef.