Close Encounters

Ningaloo Reef, WA, Day 7: It was a beautiful sunrise, a calm morning, and a welcoming start to a new day; a special day at Ningaloo Reef. The anticipation for this day had been steadily increasing all week long, as this was the day for an extraordinary journey. We boarded our charter boat at 8:15am, on the edge of Ningaloo Reef and Cape Range National Park. Our instructors briefed us on the safety precautions for the day, in preparation for the voyage we were about to embark on. We had a warm-up snorkel at a deep coral reef, while fish, a sea turtle, and a baby reef shark came into the view of our snorkelling masks.

Excitement began to build as we took off again for deeper water. We held our breath in anticipation while we waited... and then we heard it... WHALE SHARK! Our pilot above had spotted The Big One and we sped full throttle towards her. In a few minutes, we were lined up with our gear, listening attentively to our instructors. In what seemed like an instant, we went from sitting on the back of the boat to swimming frantically in the ocean, trying to reach our spotter. It seemed like organized chaos as we swam in formation around our ocean friend... a four meter female whale shark.

She was glorious. I was awestruck and could feel my heart thumping in my wet suit! Strict Australian laws forbid you to touch a whale shark, or get too close. We circled her succinctly, as she gracefully swam around us. We were careful to steer clear from her mouth, while she snacked on the fish in her wake. Several fish and two sharks swam below her, waiting for leftovers. We swam with all our might back to the boat, and waited for the other group to have their turn. We were allowed one hour with her... a surreal and magnificent experience... and one that will truly be checked-off The Bucket List.

What Lies Beneath

Ningaloo Reef, WA, Day 4: “Do something that scares you everyday” are words to live by. On March 7, 2010, this became a reality as we entered the drift-reef waters of Turquoise Bay in Cape Range National Park. We had just completed our fourth drift of the coral reef and I was swimming back to the beach, propelling myself against the strong ocean current, when from the corner of my eye, a 6-8 foot leopard shark came into focus. It didn’t move and appeared to be sleeping. In about two seconds, I decided to remain calm, and swim faster than I ever had before. By the time I got to the beach, my knees were shaking! I didn’t feel scared, but I actually felt relieved that it hadn’t approached me. As I motioned to Rodger what I had witnessed, he disappeared into the waters below to take a closer look. I could over dramatize and say that my heart stood still, but I would have to describe it as a surreal and fascinating experience, and one that I will never forget.

The Kingdom of Kangaroos

Ningaloo Reef, WA, Day 3: Cape Range National Park is located on the western coast of Australia, remotely north of Exmouth, and approximately a 5-hour flight from Melbourne. The park is perhaps the most authentic way to experience the floral and the fauna, the famous wildlife, and the extraordinary marine life the Australia has to offer. However, Cape Range National Park is truly ruled by the Kingdom of Kangaroos. These creatures are impressive in their stature, and captivating when you first discover their presence, however, one quickly learns that they are very bold and cheeky creatures. As we set up our camp at Sandy Bay, perched overlooking the ocean, we were suddenly invaded by three curious kangaroos that descended on our campsite to investigate the dinner menu. Not even the clanking of pots and pans would send them on their way. We eventually gave up and decided to share our space with the kangaroos, after all, we were guests in their living room.

I Dream in Turquoise

Ningaloo Reef, WA, Day 2: Turquoise Bay hosts the most spectacular display of coral reef and marine life I have ever seen. We caught the current 100 meters up the beach and drifted into a mesmerizing sea of spawning coral - blue-tipped, vibrant green, and bright purple, are just a few of the colours that were beginning to flourish after the last full moon, which triggered the coral spawning. Hundreds of marine life characters greeted us, as we drifted into the ethereal waters. In a silent dream state, we glided over the coral beds and wondered at the vision below. We came upon 2 sting rays, an eel, an octopus, and several hundred species of fish. We had just come out of the water to take a breather, when we noticed a pair of black-tipped reef sharks glide into our view... we decided to save the snorkelling for another day.