Travels with Tuka: Snapper Rocks

Day 90 - Snapper Rocks

Snapper Rocks

Thursday, 18 April 2013
Suuny day, clear and no wind. Went for an early morning kayak up north to end of the headland, Baba Head. On the way there were hundreds of little silver fish jumping out of the water. At the end of the headland there was a strong current coming around it from the east. I didn't try and fight my through instead turned around and followed the cliffs back south. Noticed a couple of plaques on the cliff in memory of drowned people. Went past twenty Pied Cormorants and four Pacific Gulls sitting on the limestone rocks jutting out from the cliffs. Stopped at Snapper Bay and went for a walk along the headland.

Back at camp I had a late breakfast, fed Tuka and then took him for a walk. As it was still calm I decided to go snorkelling. Swam out to the nearby seagrass beds. Their condition is varied from high and thick with plenty of small fish to very short and disturbed with no fish. While in the thick seagrass I came upon two marine turtles!! One took off but the other slowly swam around. I was able keep up and watch and photograph the turtle for a few minutes until it suddenly it moved its flippers very fast and it was gone!

Did some more snorkelling than came back to the van. Got Tuka and we went for a swim. Afterwards did some reading. Then decided to go another kayak as it was so calm. Put Tuka in the van with food and water and the back door open.

I wanted to explore the island on the other side of the bay so away I went. The water was so clear that I could see the bottom even if it was one metre deep or five metres deep. Passed by a Pied Cormorant diving and surfacing and then I saw a dugong snout appear out of the water. By the time I paddled over to where it had surfaced it had gone. So kept paddling to the island and then saw two snouts emerge from the water. But that was all I saw as the elusive animals had moved on by the time I got near where I saw them.

I finally reached the island. It is a combination of limestone rocks and high sanddunes. I could see the van as a speck on the other side of the van. A sea eagle took off as I started walking around the island. Also saw a a dark grey half metre long fish swimming in the shallows chasing the smaller fish. Took some photographs of the view and then paddled back without seeing anymore dugongs.

Back at the campsite Tuka and I had a swim and then a late lunch. Rest of the afternoon spent reading and swimming. Hot day with only a small breeze - 33 degrees in the van and it feels cool.