Spur Reef - A day trip to the edge of the continental shelf...

After a few great days pottering about Michaelmas and 'Sand Castle' Cay we decided to try our luck on the outer reef. We detoured a little on our way to Spur Reef to clear the no fishing Green Zone and as we sailed past Onyx Reef we finally caught a Spanish Mackerel!

The anchorage on Spur Reef was rather exposed and the only sand patches we found were really deep so we ended up anchoring on loose coral rubble in about 10 metres. Our anchor held for a few hours while we snorkelled around at low tide.

The underwater visibility was much better on the edge of the continental shelf, but the shallow reef - best suited to snorkelling - had clearly taken a battering in recent years so we made our way back to Michaelmas Cay via Hastings Reef for another overnight stop...

Michaelmas 'Sand Castle' Cay - Another sand cay appears at low tide...

As the tide dropped one day we noticed a small sand cay appear on the horizon approximately 3 nautical miles away from Michaelmas Cay so we decided to up anchor and have a look.

Emily named the transient island 'Sand Castle Cay' after we built a small structure near the high point to see if it would survive the night. Unfortunately the high tide wiped out any trace of our castle! 

The reef around the cay was pretty similar to Michaelmas Cay with plenty of giant clams, soft corals and red fans.

However, we found more Clown Fish around 'Sand Castle Cay' than Michaelmas. Some of the Clown Fish were happy to come out and play while others preferred the shelter of their anemone homes...

We even found a gaggle of Garfish in the lagoon which reminded us of North East Herald Cay!

Michaelmas Cay - Underway life remains pretty cool...

We stayed a few days anchored behind Michaelmas Cay and enjoyed the snorkelling on offer. The underwater visibility varied dramatically depending on the tide and wave conditions. But there was always plenty for Eric to see.

The fish on some of the coral bommies to the north of the cay were pretty friendly and there were plenty of red fan corals on the deeper drop-offs.

The variety of textures and colours to be found around the cay was great and we all enjoyed seeing turtles again!

Michaelmas Cay - Lots of tourists, but still nice coral...

Michaelmas Cay has really changed over the years. What was once a relatively quite little sand cay covered in birds is now inundated by large numbers of tourists who arrive on mass at around 1000 each morning aboard sailing catamarans. The majority of the cay has also been roped off and there is a no access period that runs from 1500 until 0930 the next day.

While the changes are pronounced the giant clams of old remain plentiful on the reef around the island and the coral is quite nice with a good variety of hard and soft corals.

Sam really liked the abundant yellow flat soft coral and the hard lace corals so we decied to stay awhile to explore...

North East Herald Cay - A healthy reef system with curious fish!

The reef system around North East Herald Cay is exposed to the Coral Sea and can be pounded by large seas so only the hardiest coral survives. Nonetheless, there are some amazing patches of coral inside the reef barrier around the cay and friendly fish everywhere.

Emily and Ryan were enthralled as large schools of Garfish and reef fish encirled them. They even seemed to enjoy the regular encounters with small(ish) reef sharks...

The amount of underwater life at North East Herald Cay when compared to East Diamond Islet is stunning and it is clear that 'No Fishing Zones' really do work!

North East Herald Cay - Wow!

We arrived at North East Herald Cay at around 09:00 on Fathers Day after a gentle overnight sail from the Diamond Ises.

North East Herald Cay forms part of the Coringa-Herald Nature Reserve - effectively the equivalent of a Green Zone on the Great Barrier Reef. The place is spectacular, stunning colours, incredible underwater visibility, amazing birdlife, giant hermit crabs and friendly fish of all shapes and sizes that are still curious about humans!

On our first snorkel we found good coral patches and a field of Helmet Shells in the shallow water behind the cay.

In all my time on the reef - even as a kid 35 years ago - I have never seen so many Helmet Shells! There were smiles a plenty as we return to Lucey Blue with tales of underwater life. This reef system remains a time capsule of biodiversity and a place worthy of further exploration...

East Diamond Islet - Snorkelling...

Well much as we love East Diamond Islet - fantastic anchorage, great bird life and crystal clear water - the reef system appears to be under stress. The majority of the reef has been severely damaged by recent cyclones and there are places where there is simply no living coral and very few fish. After much searching we found life in the patches behind the sand cay - even a turtle or two. Hopefully the reef will return to it's former glory in the coming years...

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Lady Musgrave - Eric learns to snorkel...

Eric wants to be involved in all the activities aboard Lucey Blue and while he loved his underwater spy glass and scenic kayak tours he was desperate to be in the water. The only problem is he is still learning how to swim!

While this fact was a minor obstacle to Eric's aquatic ambitions we decided to take him out to the turtle pool and see if he could use his new googles and snorkel with support from Mum and Dad.

We suited Eric up in a full wetsuit and took the plunge. Eric was like a baby koala latched onto our backs while looking over our shoulders to see underwater.

Eric was so excited. He was wiggling, pointing, jumping up and down, exclaiming and carrying out lengthy monologues with his snorkel in his mouth! Who said you can't talk underwater?

Eric was in seventh heaven looking at turtles, fish, seahorses and starfish, but he eventually got cold and started to turn blue so despite his protests we headed back to the boat for warm showers.

Nick took Eric with Emily and Ryan out the next day to a shallow section of the lagoon and took the next step. With a lot of words of encouragement and support, a pair of blue fins and an extra wetsuit for added warmth and flotation Eric was away.

The look in his big wide eyes as he realised that he could swim and even snorkel is one that Nick will never forget - apprehension, doubt, confusion, amazement and then finally pure joy. There was a lot of cheering as Eric waddled along through the water half dog paddle, half moonwalk.

Eric swam by himself for over forty minutes that day at Lady Musgrave. He was so proud to be able to share his own special treasures with Emily and Ryan just as they had with him on our earlier adventures. He would swim this way and that, stop and point to share his excitment and when required tug on someones wetsuit to get them to see what he had found!

Emily and Ryan shared in Eric's joy. But on the way back Emily told us all that it was not fair that Eric had learnt to swim at Lady Musgrave given she had to learn in a "normal pool''. We all laughed while shivering on the dinghy ride back to Lucey Blue.

Eric then explained his swimming adventure to Mum and asked why his hands had gone wrinkled or as he said "all donkerly". Our youngest duck is growing up fast...