Travels with Tuka: 14 Mile Beach to Coral Bay turnoff rest area

Day 116 - 14 Mile Beach to Coral Bay turnoff rest area

14 Mile Beach, Coral Bay, Coral Bay Turnoff Rest Area

Tuesday, 14 May 2013
Woke up at 6am and driving to Coral Bay by 6.20am. Arrived at the main road at 6.40 am (20 minutes for 10km of dirt road) and at Coral bay before 7am (12 minutes for 20km of sealed road). Had a walk with Tuka and then we had breakfast.

Tuka and I then went to the Nigaloo Reef Dive and Snorkel shop at 7.30am. While I was signing forms and getting wetsuit and flippers Tuka was being patted by the staff and customers. Jess arrived to take Tuka for the day. I gave her the food and bowls and said goodbye.

Then we were driven to the boat in a bus with the owner's dog keeping an eye on us. There were ten customers with various skill levels. The four staff on the boat were Bret (skipper), Alaina (in water guide), Hayley (videographer) and Richard (deckhand, support).

Initially we went to an area on the reef where there were plenty of fish and coral but also a shark grooming area. The reef sharks would come there to be groomed by little fish. Also saw a Green turtle swimming by. We stayed there until the skipper received word from the spotter plane that whale sharks had been sighted.

Then we went off at a fast rate to get to where the Whale Sharks were located. It was a cloudy day so it was cold once we were out of the water so hot drinks and biscuits were available. On the way we were given instructions on how to behave when confronted with a Whale Shark.

There were two other boats at the Whale Shark location. Only one group of ten or less could view the WS In the water at any one time. When our turn came we were in the water waiting then suddenly a large shape appeared and a six metre long WS swam past us. That was the trouble though as the WS was swimming at a fast rate and the only ones that could keep up were Hayley and Alaina.

Back in the boat we warmed up and waited for the plane to spot another Whale Shark and then we were off again. Into the water waiting for the signal from that it was coming. Then this big shape looms out of the murky water and I tried to photograph it and keep up with it and at the same time avoid the other snorkellers trying to do the same thing. It was good fun and exciting but I wish it could have lasted longer.

On the way home a Humpback Whale was spotted and we gave chase. We were able to get close enough to see the tail coming out and hitting the water - spectacular. Finally we had another snorkel amongst the coral and then it was back to Coral Bay.

{My photos of the Whale Sharks were not good. The Whale Shark photos on the blog are screenshots from the dvd of the trip produced by Hayley (Migration Media Underwater Imaging) and purchased by me the next day.}

	The Supervisor [Map]		Getting ready [Map]
	Coral [Map]		Whale Shark coming towards us [Map]
	Whale Shark and suckerfish [Map]		Whale Shark and snorkellers [Map]
	Swimming past us [Map]		Going away [Map]
	Humpback Whale [Map]		Humpback Whale [Map]
	The journey back home [Map]