Monday 10th Mar 2008

Sore throat. Stuffy nose. Forget about it.

Coral Bay is a gateway to the famous Ningaloo Reef – equally as good as the Great Barrier.

I relieve myself of $130 dollars and join the manta ray snorkeling trip.
I’ve never snorkeled properly before. Fighting the underwater instinct, shallow panting gives me just enough air to get by but I wont be able to swim very hard.
We take a short ‘test-dive’ to get used to it. For now I just float around with the hundreds of fish drawn to us by the baiting. Wow! I’m in a tropical fish tank. I’ve never been so close to so many fish. So many colours.
And the reef just below us. Not as colourful as I imagined, but spectacular nonetheless.

Now we wait. A spotter plane tells us where to find the manta rays.
Two groups. One group at a time slides in and follows a ray. There are several but they are easily lost in the murky green water. It barrel rolls. I see its white underside with its gang of cleaning fish in tight formation. It’s easily as wide as I am tall! We follow it’s dak shadow for a while but it’s difficult to trace.
It was short but magical.

The water gets lively. I feel drunk. Tired. Sick. Light-headed, heavy-headed. ugh!
Concentrated breathing. Relaxing. Sleep…
Some time later it’s lunch. I keep it simple – no shrimp thanks.

Back in the water for an hour of free snorkeling. Guided through a tight gap in the high reef to see reef sharks getting cleaned by small fish. Fairly small and not here to feed, but these are sharks! I’m just feet away! Many sharks. Black and menacing looking.
We’re guided back through the gap and are let loose on the reef.
Amazing. Aside from a blocked nose, I notice breathing has become easier.
A lone shark, strayed to this side of the reef, persuades me it’s time to go back to the boat.

Back on the bus. Short drive to Exmouth.
We spot a Thorny Devil on the roadside. I love his grumpy face.

Mike and Marijke (from my last trip) are here! It turns out they will be joining our bus from here.

Spend the evening chatting with Jessica and Megumi.