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Friday - Eastern Beach sunrise is spectactular
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date: 24/10/2008
Author:Laura Smith
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CONDITIONS
Weather: Fine and sunny | Air Temp: 25°C | Wind: SE/NE 15-20 knots | Water Temp: 24°C | Water Visibility: ~ 15 m | Sea State: A little choppy
ISLAND LIFE
Critter Encounters:
This morning, keen early risers experienced Lady Elliot Island as it awoke. The sunrises here on our eastern beach are just spectacular! At this hour the resort is hushed, but the wildlife is bustling! Early morning walkers encountered many turtles this morning, including a group of about six courting in knee-deep water, just by the shore! Another large female green turtle was resting on the sand at the waters’ edge. A large flock of roseate terns rose from the shore in an outcry of squawking as a couple sauntered by. Some beach walkers stumbled across a beautiful sleeping brown booby bird sitting on the coral beach with its head tucked away under a wing. It awoke and raised its head as the people walked by, appearing as though it was studying them intently until they were out of sight of each other.
The excitement of the glass-bottom boat tour began before guests had even boarded! On the walk across the reef flat to board the boat, guests came across not one, but many lovely sea hares! These unusual creatures are relatives of sea snails, and at one stage their ancestors possessed a shell. Over many generations, sea hares have lost the need for their protective shell as they have evolved new defenses – including the bizarre ability to squirt distasteful purple ink into the water around them! Guests were wide-eyed watching these alien molluscs as they moved, and fascinated to feel their soft, slimy texture.
Once aboard the boat, the thrills continued with breaching humpback whales spotted on the horizon! And, at closer range, no more than 20 metres from Second Reef (a popular snorkelling site), a pod of bottlenose dolphins cruised by! A grey reef shark was also spotted swimming straight under the boat!!
SCUBA divers today reported a tasseled wobbegong on The Severence wreck, a large moray eel at Three Pyramids, an enormous Maori wrasse, and some very friendly turtles. At the end of their morning dive, they surfaced to see whales tail slapping near Lighthouse Bommy! In the afternoon, some Advanced Open Water SCUBA students were taken on a deep dive and were able to experience the phenomena of getting “narced” (nitrogen narcosis) in a safe controlled environment. The students are looking forward to being PADI-certified advanced divers by the end of their stay.
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Sunrise on the Eastern beach - Wayne Fox
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