Manta Rays X4

Manta Ray Tour, Coral Bay, WA

Saturday 8^th October

When we were in Coral Bay in 2016 I did the ‘Swimming with Manta Rays’ tour with Val (Val and Henry were visiting us). We both had a wonderful day and I was keen for Daniel, Jackson and Emilia to experience the thrill of swimming with these majestic creatures. After we’d booked and paid we found out a few of the recent tours had been unlucky and hadn’t found any Manta Rays to swim with – we crossed everything hoping it would work out for us.

The tours were cancelled on Thursday and Friday due to strong winds and high swell, but we awoke on the day of our tour to a perfect day- the sun was shining and the sea was calm.

Before beginning the search for Manta Rays we did a snorkel through some lovely coral deeper out on the reef. We saw a turtle, some reef sharks and so many different fish, as well as large, colourful coral.

After the snorkel we all had a hot drink as we waited for the spotter plane to hopefully find some Manta Rays for us to swim with. I’d taken 2 sips of my tea when we were instructed to get ready quickly as some Mantas had been found and we were about to swim with them!

We jumped off the back of the boat and within a moment there was not just one, but three Manta Rays swimming underneath us. They were not going as fast as they can, so we were able to easily keep up and really get a good look at them. We got back in the boat to let the second half of the tour group in the water, then we got to get back in. This time a fourth Manta had joined and they all swam in a line, allowing us to swim right near them. We ended up getting to do four swims with the Manta Rays and each time we got to see them from a different angle and noticed different things about them. We were told that it was likely that the group were a ‘mating chain’. Basically the female swims around with would be suitors following her in a long game of ‘last man standing’. Whoever is left when she decides to stop (this can be after many days) is the lucky mate. As we watched, one male ray tried to cut in line but the other ray wouldn’t let him in. It was amazing to watch. As we finished our last swim we noticed there were heaps of small reef sharks swimming underneath us which was another great thing to be able to see.

After lunch we did another snorkel out in deep water where the coral created big gorges for us to swim through. Daniel found a massive shell (as big as his forearm) that we all took a good look at, and we saw more turtles, a school of giant trevally and so many fish. If we didn’t get so cold we all could have stayed out there for hours, it was incredible.

It was a wonderful day, with the tour leaders saying that was one of the best days they’d had out on the water for a while. We felt very lucky and so glad we decided to do the tour, it was such a wonderful experience.

We couldn’t resist getting the professional photos taken on the day – so these photos are not mine (I wish). They were taken by Aimee Nicholson-Jack, a professional underwater photographer. The photos inspired Emilia and she has since bought herself an underwater camera, so soon we will be able to post our own ocean shots!

7 days at Coral Bay

Coral Bay, WA

Monday 3^rd – Monday 10^th October

We were lucky enough to get into a caravan park in Coral Bay for the 2^nd week of the school holidays. It is a very popular place and powered sites book out a year in advance for the school holidays. We knew it would be busy in town but there are plenty of places to explore around the area and we were excited for the kids to have the opportunity to play with lots of other kids. They certainly took up that opportunity and spent lots of time on the jumping pillow and playground meeting other kids and playing elaborate games.

As we checked in, we were told of the devastating natural event that occurred about 6 months ago that has left most of the coral in the bay either dead or in such a state of distress that it has no colour. Around March this year the coral spawned and the eggs and sperm are meant to be blown out to sea where they begin growing, making new coral. Unfortunately, just as the coral spawned there was a tropical storm way out at sea that caused the wind to blow in towards the bay. This resulted in a layer of coral spawn becoming trapped in the shallow bay, where it deprived the water underneath of oxygen. This led to between 20,000 to 50,000 fish dying in the spate of 5 days and caused all the mirco algae that grows on the coral (and keeps it healthy and colourful) to die. The coral is now covered in a brown layer of another type of algae, so it looks very eerie, like an underwater graveyard. It is very sad for the community (and the poor marine life). Some of the coral has a chance to grow back, but it will take 10-15 years for it to do so.

The coral in the surrounding bays was thankfully not impacted, so we spent most of our time exploring these beaches and enjoying the laid back lifestyle of this lovely coastal town.

Day 1 – Monday

We arrived, set up then went for a walk along the beach to reacquaint ourselves with Coral Bay. We passed the fish filleting tables in time to see the fish caught on the daily charters being filleted – much to Jackson’s excitement. After watching the sun set over the bay, and the sky turn an amazing array of colours, we all enjoyed a long, hot shower (even though it was bore water it still felt amazing after 6 days of being in the ocean and only having a short wash off using the solar showers).

Day 2- Tuesday

Today we took the sandy coastal track to Oyster Bridge, a rock formation set close to shore that encompasses an array of coral and is a haven for loads of fish and other ocean creatures (they must know they are in a Sanctuary Zone as they swim so close to you with no fear at all). Whilst snorkelling Daniel found a crayfish that he picked up and showed us all (and a few other lucky snorkellers that were nearby), then when we went out behind the ‘bridge’ to the open ocean we were surrounded by a school of larger fish, who just calmly swam around us, it was a very cool experience. After warming up on the hot sand and watching lots of kids sandboarding (the kids were very bummed that we’d forgotten to bring their boogie boards) we went to another nearby snorkelling site, The Lagoon. We all had another incredible snorkel, even though the wind picked up and the water was pretty choppy. A highlight for me was spotting some squid, I loved watching them change colour and then rocket away at top speed when they spotted me. We were all freezing by the time we got out, and the cold wind blowing didn’t help. After a quick hot shower back at camp we headed down to Maud’s Landing (a beach just north of Coral Bay) for a fish and to watch the sun set. Although no fish were caught, it was still a lovely evening on the beach.

Ready for a snorkel at Oyster Bridge.

The rocky 'bridge' makes this a calm, protected spot to snorkel.

Oyster Bridge was certainly popular this day! This is only half of the cars that were there- this is what happens when you got to popular places during school holidays!

After our snorkel at The Lagoon- salt water and wind = very frizzy hair for me!

Sunset fishing at Maud's Landing.

Emilia didn't want to get her feet wet.

The colours after the sun had set were lovely.

Day 3- Wednesday

Another day, another snorkel! Today we left early to get to Five Fingers reef before the wind started. We had a fabulous snorkel and saw turtles and a few reef sharks, as well as a fish feeding frenzy, with hundreds of fish all bunched in together chowing down on some coral, it was such an interesting and unique sight. After our snorkel the kids tried sandboarding on the dunes before we headed back to camp. In the afternoon we went for a snorkel in the bay, although the coral doesn’t have any colour it is still incredible to see. The fish are also coming back and we got to see the resident Spangled Emperors up close.

Having fun on the beach before our morning snorkel at Five Fingers reef.

Stylin' it in our wetsuits (the glare from the sun was pretty extreme hence our squints!).

Day 4- Thursday

Whilst I took advantage of the reasonable internet to catch up on some work, Daniel took the kids along the coast track to explore some of the beaches south of Coral Bay. Their best find was a bay that was just teeming with turtles, so they spent a bit of time standing on the dunes turtle spotting. We spent that afternoon enjoying the beach at Coral Bay. The kids met up with some friends looing for hermit crabs and sandboarding. That evening Daniel and I tried to enjoy a romantic sunset together sitting on the sand dunes, but it was so windy we ended up covered in fine sand (and so did our glasses of wine).

All that activity had worn him out.

Looking for hermit crabs....

..but she found a jellyfish instead.

Coming back from sandboarding with some friends they made.

Just before the wind picked up and we got covered in sand.

Day 5- Friday

We decided to go back to Oyster Bridge so the kids could sandboard on the dunes out there and we were lucky enough to have the whole place to ourselves (such a contrast to the first time when the beach was packed). The kids had so much fun sandboarding. As well as sandboarding on the dunes near the car, they found a spot where the dunes came down close to the water’s edge. If they sped down the dune fast enough they actually made it into the water! There were some funny falls and they got covered in sand. We also did another snorkel but could only stay inside the ‘bridge’ as the swell was very high. Visibility wasn’t great but I still managed to see two octopuses. I watched in amazement as the bigger octopus reached one of its long arms out towards the smaller octopus. After it was batted away a few times it managed to get close, then it totally enveloped the smaller octopus. I have since researched it and this was the mating ritual (apparently the female fends the male off before eventually accepting him). It was quite incredible to watch. I called the others over and we all watched in awe as the male did his best to try to entice the female again, but she kept swimming away. They also both turned different colours as this was happening, with the female totally camouflaging herself into the coral and sand. The male turned himself into darker colours and blended in with the shadows in the rocks. It was certainly a sight to see. When it was low tide we also walked along the top of the rocks and saw so many giant clams (and lots of little ones too) in an array of different colours. 

We had the whole beach to ourselves!

Ready to sandboard.

The next few photos and videos are the kids having a blast sandboarding. Daniel couldn't resist having a go too, but I declined as I was certain it wouldn't end well!

Ready for our snorkel at low tide. 

Day 6 – Saturday: Manta Ray Tour.

What an incredible day. I have done a separate blog as there are so many photos to share (we got the photos that the professional photographer took). Below are just a few snaps I took on the day – there aren’t many as I was too busy snorkelling with turtles and swimming with Manta Rays!! 

First thing in the morning - ready and full of excitement (and anticipation) for the day ahead.

Enjoying a hot Milo to warm up after our first snorkel.

Exhausted but happy after a great day out.

On the way back - we were blessed with such great weather.

Waiting to dock the boat and soaking up some rays (it took us awhile to warm up after all the time in the water).

Day 7- Sunday

We actually weren’t meant to still be in Coral Bay today, but the boys booked in for a fishing charter so we extended our stay. Then the charter got cancelled (Jackson was devastated)!! We couldn’t get a refund for the caravan park so we just decided to stay another night. We spent the morning exploring some of the beaches south of Coral Bay, including the beach Daniel and the kids found the other day. Once again there were turtles everywhere so the kids and I ‘turtle spotted’ while Daniel went out to try his luck for a crayfish. Unfortunately the swell was high and the visibility was terrible so he had no luck. Whilst out though, he saw heaps of huge turtles and he even saw some mating (he was only a metre away when he saw them as the visibility was so bad). Clearly it is mating season in Coral Bay at the moment! After that we went back to Five Fingers Reef. Daniel and the kids ended up helping two carloads of people who were severely bogged in the soft sand, so it was lucky we turned up when we did. We had a snorkel and saw some cuttlefish – these creatures are very strange looking and I spent ages looking at them change colour and move around. I also had a turtle nearly bump into me! That afternoon we went down to the bay and got to feed some huge Spangled Emperors. We caught up with some friends we met a few weeks ago and enjoyed some cold beverages at one of the pubs. It was a great end to a wonderful week.

Explaining how bad the conditions were- Jackson was glad he didn't get in. 

Feeding the resident Spangled Emperors at Coral Bay - they got nice and close!