Turquoise Bay

The morning started with a trip to Yardie Creek for a boat tour on the water - about 500 metres long stretch of navigable water surrounded on both sides by a gorge with Rock Wallabies and Osprey. The water is salty and comes from the ocean during large tides, bringing in some fish too. The tour was led by Boxy who told us his and his families life story (his parents coming from post-WW2 Germany and eventually ending up working on building the Naval base). After an hour long tour we were off to the beach.
Seventeen years ago we spent an entire week scuba diving the reefs of Ningaloo, except for one day. On that day we travelled down to Cape Range National Park and snorkeled at Turquoise Beach - it was amazing. Without doubt, the best snorkeling that we have ever done.
We had talked about it so much with the kids and the McDermotts that we may have over sold it - but it didn't disappoint. It is a magical stretch of water where the waves from the outer reef crash into a somewhat secluded bay where they flow back out to the ocean, creating a rip that is perfect for a drift snorkel.
Within the waters are a wide range of corals, only centimeters below the water and the water is teaming with aquatic life.
There was so much fish life that it is hard to list them all, and if Daniel's Macbook was working there would be a video. But some of the highlights were:
- a giant Potato Cod (Grouper) that was bigger than Michael (who found it first). It eventually emerged from the rock it was trying to hide under whilst being cleaned and Daniel was able to follow and get some great footage.
- juvenille white tip reef sharks - three or four were found - again, some great footage.
- massive Unicorn fish.
- Trumpeter fish.
- Six-banded Angelfish.
We snorkeled for nearly two hours and could have kept going for many more hours. It was great to see Michael taking to it so well (except he got cold, despite the water being 26 degrees!).
We finished off the day with a trip to Vlamingh Head Lighthouse to watch the sunset from such a great vantage point, complete with a glass of white and a few cheeses and dips. It is a rather unique location, as it is one of the few places that you can watch a sunrise and sunset!
Once the sun set, Daniel waited for the stars to come out to take advantage of the unique photo opportunity. Unfortunately with the solar eclipse later in the week, there are a lot of people who like to watch the Heavenly bodies and there quiet a few people with the same idea.
Patience was required, but the reward is a rather unique photograph.
Tomorrow we dive the Navy Pier!もっと詳しく