Up and back into a second shot at seeing the Whale Shark. The day was looking good with an easterly breeze blowing and not a cloud in the sky. The prediction from the boat master was that the sea breeze would pick up and we would end up in a situation of no wind at the critical period. We motored out into the reef and slowly steamed for the open sea through a very convoluted cannel through the reef. We did not stop for the test snorkel today as pretty much everyone was returned from yesterday so straight into the whale search. We saw a Dugong on the way out but it was a pretty limited view as they are very shy creatures. At 10am the spotter plane was in the air and we were in open sea enjoying the lazy roll and pitch of a 2 – 3 metre swell and wind driven chop. Putt putt we went as the captain awaited the call from the spotter plane to give it full noise to where the Whale Shark had been spotted. We saw some turtles out at sea. Putt Putt Putt we went, pitch and roll, Putt Putt Putt, Pitch and roll. I have to admit I am a little prone to seasickness. I can visualise myself as an old sea dog loving the motion of the ocean for a while and using self-hypnosis techniques I can convince myself for a bit longer that I am enjoying it,… Putt Putt Putt, Pitch and Roll, Putt Putt putt, pitch and roll. After about two hours I was loosing the battle with my building nausea and lay down with my eyes closed which is the move of a man in desperation trying not to loose his breakfast. It worked, but eyes shut it was for the next 3 hours or so. Dad in the mean time did loose his breakfast and then looked pretty chirpy after this. Putt Putt Putt, Pitch and roll, Putt putt putt, pitch and Roll, Putt putt putt….
Sadly at about 2.30 the search was called off with a disappointed crew and group of passengers. The plane had been doing a grid search of a 10 X 50km area for four and a half hours and no sign of the Whale shark so clearly the sharks had heard of my intentions to get them in a headlock and show them who’s boss, and dived for deep water. This is the impressive thing about Whale Sharks in this area, that they hang around on the surface. Being fish they do not need to which makes them different to whales of course. They usually spend time in the deep and have been recorded going down to 1.5km deep prior to the monitor tag on them imploding due to the extreme pressure at that depth. They come to the surface at Ningaloo because of the upwelling of nutrients and the spawning of the coral, which gives them a really good feed. This is the only place that they can be predictably seen.
Since the whale shark hunt was cancelled we decided to have a snorkel in the reef, and this was great. The visibility was excellent despite the wind, which had now died right down. We jumped in and went for a swim through some excellent coral reef with the usual plethora of colourful fish active doing their thing. The noise of them crunching into the coral was loud and there was a wider variety of fish eating the coral than I have noticed before. We went for a swim out through a maize of coral outcrops and then floated back with the current to the boat. On the way back we connected with a massive shoal of Trevally? That was circling away. I dived down into them a couple of times and they initially scattered but then closed in and circled me. It was a great experience. Some of the others saw a turtle but I missed seeing it. There was a reef shark swimming along with the Trevally, probably 4 – 5 feet, and he went right beneath me. Of course a 4 – 5 foot shark looks like jaws with the magnification of the mask added to the magnification of my perception of sharks following watching Jaws as a child.
We came ashore and the staff were very apologetic about the failed attempt to find the big fish. They gave out vouchers to get a free outing in the future, valid for 3 years, I guess I will have to return. The thing about viewing wildlife is that if you want a guarantee to see it then you need to go to a Zoo and everyone seemed to accept this and I did not witness any bad feeling, just a mutual disappointment about the no show of the Whale Shark. Last time I challenge a Whale shark to an arm wrestle. The poor thing is still probably cowering in the depths wondering what an arm is!
Watched the sun set from a cloudless sky into the pristine ocean with only the burst of waves on the Reef intervening.
Phoned Di, as there was a message on the phone about the Tree Felling team knocking down the power lines at home. I showed the guys the lines and said “are you sure you won’t have a problem with these lines?” They assured me that there was no chance, and confirmed that they carry insurance if they do anyway. Somehow I knew that those big old trees would reach the lines if given the chance, but what do I know about these things. Unfortunately this type of event only builds my righteousness. Thankfully the power line guys had turned up and replaced the broken power pole and restored power to the house. Apparently it is very cold at home with snow all around, the heat pump has stopped working to boot, which does not help. It is hard to believe this really as we are still in very warm conditions. The temperature is no longer the uncomfortable humid type but a very comfortable dry, high twenties I would guess. The water temperature is about 25 degrees.
Had a couple of beers at the Backpackers and a hamburger that they were putting on. Watched a bunch of music videos from the 80’s, 90’s and naughties. A very happy atmosphere in this place with music videos, pool table and table tennis all beside an appealing looking swimming pool. Dad could not contain his Publican nature and had to tell off a couple of the young men sitting on the pool table, then to compensate went up and slapped a stranger on the shoulder saying something jolly to him, then proceeded to tell the barmaid off for pouring a Guinness can incorrectly. The poor old boy must be missing home.
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