CORAL BAY

Colonel Sanders ... I mean, my beautiful husband before 'the shave'.

Tess and Ben on the way back from the snorkel tour

David and Beth, the snorkel enthusiasts

Ben, David and Bridgie snorkeling the Ningaloo Reef

Ben entering the water

David with a Green Turtle - just stunning

David and Beth snorkeling the Ningaloo Reef

A giant clam

Underwater scene

On the boat

Ben, David and Bridgie in the water

Bridgie in her snorkel and mask

Ben in the water

Beth is a little champion

Feeding the Spangled Emperor

Feeding the Spangled Emperor

DAY 75 – CORAL BAY                                                    Thursday, 15^th September

Off early to pick up our snorkeling masks for our big day of snorkeling and looking at the Ningaloo Reef.  We went down to the beachfront and hopped in the water at about 9:30am which was VERY early and so VERY cold!!  The younger kids did not last long, especially Tess who does not have an ounce of meat on her, but David and Beth were fantastic, going out to the reef for as long as they could until David realised that his biggest problem with his mask was, in fact, his magnificent moustache!!  It was going to have to go in order for him to really enjoy the glass bottom boat tour and snorkeling that afternoon.

So home he came, but only shaved off the moustache, not the beard, so now looks very strange.  I think he might just try to grow it back again.

The kids had a bit more of a snorkeling practice in the pool before lunch and then we headed over to the Miss Coral Bay III.  The kids were enthralled with the glass bottom of the boat and we could see lots of coral and snapper and loads of other fish.

When it came time to go on the snorkeling tour, David took Beth, Tess and Ben with him while Bridgie and I stayed around the boat – and believe me when I say Bridgie was looking after me and not the other way around.  I am absolutely hopeless!  Last time I snorkeled I was a young bride on my honeymoon, eager to impress my handsome new husband.  So after much cajoling, I did climb into the water of the Great Barrier Reef.

Thank God I have reached a point in my life where I don’t believe I have anything to prove.  Of course, the jeers from my children are gut wrenching, but I am coping admirably!!  The captain threw out some food for the fish, so Bridgie got such a surprise when she was suddenly surrounded by enormous fish. 

After the first half of the snorkel, Tess and Ben had had enough and climbed into the boat but Beth went off with David and the rest of the snorkel tour.  They managed to see a Green Turtle and an incredible giant clam, among many other things. 

All the kids did such an amazing job.  I was so proud of them, having a go at something new and something not very easy.  More importantly, they were proud of themselves. 

We were so glad we did the boat and snorkel tour as it enabled David and Beth in particular to snorkel in places they otherwise would not have made it to. We finished the day with “fish feeding” from the beach with the Spangled Emperor swimming right through their legs!  The kids are now a bit “overtired” and finding it difficult to get to sleep.  Beth is probably still thinking of her Green Turtle encounter!  Big drive to Monkey Mia tomorrow.