4 Stray Katz: Majestic Manta Rays

After missing out on swimming with the whale sharks last time we were in Coral Bay (due to being evacuated because on an incoming cyclone) I was toying with the idea of doing some sort of tour. After a very successful day snorkelling at the supremely calm Oyster Bridge (an amazing snorkelling spot north of Coral Bay) I hoped Val would be in on my idea of leaving the kids with Daniel and Henry and going snorkelling with the Manta Rays. She was and we booked and paid immediately for the next day before she could change her mind. After a fitful sleep due to excitement we set out at 8am with about 20 others. It was a perfect day, the bay was calm and the visibility was excellent. We did our first snorkel in a deep part of the by over heaps of thick coral. We saw such an array of fish. I also saw 3 different turtles but the biggest surprise I had was the very large reef shark cruising under me whilst I was quite far from the group ( I had got lost in some very large coral when it came so close to the surface that I literally had to float over to get out without banging into any rocks or damaging the coral with my flippers). I absolutely packed myself and just froze on the surface. I subsequently found out that they are harmless but they still look scary underwater! Val still had a great snorkel even though her mask and snorkel needed some adjusting, she was quite exhausted afterwards after having spent so much time blowing water out of her snorkel. They gave her a new one for the next snorkel though that was heaps better.

We wrapped up in towels (even though we had shorty wetsuits we were all freezing after spending 40 min in the water) we and headed towards a turtle feeding area where we saw heaps of turtles and a couple of dolphins.

The next part of the tour was just incredible. First we went on the hunt for manta rays. After spotting two large ones feeding we got into our group ready to swim with them. Val and I were in the last group and we were just desperate to get in, it was torture watching them from the boat and not being able to get in. Finally it was our turn and we were so lucky as another manta came along so we got to swim with 3 different ones. The mantas swim up and down the sandy ocean floor feeding. They call it line feeding but it is like crop dusting, back and forth slowing moving across. I did my best to keep up with the manta, swimming next to it then staying still on the surface when it turned. The turning was amazing, a huge creature with its open mouth turning right under you. At one point I had 2 manta turning under me and they seemed so close. It was just breathtaking. We had to embark again to let another group go but just as we boarded they asked if anyone wanted to go again as some people had pulled out of the other group. Although exhausted Val and I hightailed it to the back of the boat to get in again. This time we had a massive swim and, although I would have loved to swim with them more, my body was ready to get back in the boat as I was shivering.

Our final snorkel site was over some incredible blue stag horn coral and anemone that was home to soooo many fish. I also saw a rather large white tip reef shark cruising around which was great to observe from up high (as this water was much deeper). We were exhausted by the time we got back but so pleased we had done it, it was a wonderful experience and we were so lucky to have had such a perfect day with crystal clear water.