colours of the reef

Since our last visit to the outer reef we’ve visited Townsville and spent some relaxing time at Magnetic Island with friends. And, we’ve snuck out to the outer reef again!

We enjoyed a lovely few weeks around Townsville and Maggie catching up with friends – Waterfront, Adagio, Skedaddle, Getaway and Islandancer, as well as meeting other yachties under the Maggie ‘yachtie shelter’ for sundowners at Horseshoe Bay.  Maggie is so easy to get around.  There are regular buses, a ferry to Townsville, walking tracks, shops including an IGA and many eateries throughout the island (however, they like other locations are still compromised with staff shortages).

There was a quick trip to Camera House in Townsville of course for a replacement camera and a larger ‘drybag’ for my additional camera gear.  I’m now using a Olympus TG6, as well as my TG5 with the additional wide-angle lens. I’m still cursing my stupidity with my TG4, but, the newer TG6 should be a better camera.  So we are off to the reef to try it!

We watched the weather forecast every day while at Maggie.  Adagio was very keen to visit the outer reef with us. Eventually a small 3-night window appeared. After some ‘to-ing and fro-ing’ and postponed plans, we eventually agreed on a departure. It was a rather brisk sail out to Lodestone Reef, approx’ 30nm NE of Magnetic Island, but knowing the wind was to ease over the next few days, we were hopeful for some calm snorkeling days.

We had visitors the same afternoon! Apparently they visited again at dawn the next morning, breaching and slapping, but we were sound asleep and missed the show.  Damn!

We had visited Lodestone Reef a few years back, so I was keen to see what the state of the reef was like this time.  I was pleasantly surprised.

This Hawksbill Turtle was foraging amongst the coral, bum in the air, oblivious to me and any fish that wandered by … can you find Nemo? He’s in every photo.

A slideshow …

Adagio had to leave us after the one night as they needed calm weather to return south to the Whitsundays. The SE trades are entrenched here at the moment.

After two nights at Lodestone we ventured further north with a short hop to John Brewer Reef with Islandancer. JB has two public moorings and we were fortunate enough to pick up both of these.

I braved a drone boat launch again …  oh the colours of the reef!

Once again, I was pleasantly surprised at the healthy coral and fish life. My favourite Blue Green Pullers were prolific …

… and the Featherstars!  So many colours – orange, yellow, red, green and brown. Some displayed their flowing fern branches, while others were curled up in the nooks and crannies of the coral.

I count eleven Featherstars clinging to this staghorn coral …

Here’s a slideshow of my other finds down under …

We feel very fortunate to have snatched our recent reef window as we can see ten days of strong SE winds coming … and several days of rain!  But, we may sneak in a visit to Zoe Bay on Hinchinbrook Island before hiding if we can.

On our return from the reef approaching Orpheus Island, we were greeted by an amazing whale show in the distance. While the fun and games with the mother teaching her calf how to breach, slap and play settled as we slowly approached, we both saw an amazing breach approx’ 100 metres away.  I didn’t capture the shot, but we certainly enjoyed the moment.