Michaelmas Cay - Barrier Reef
Gaviota
Tue 31 May 2016 00:50
16:36.330S 145:58.341E
Sunday 29th
May – Left Marlin Marina at 10.00am and motored out towards Michaelmas Cay on
the Barrier Reef. Wind picked up10-15
knots and we sailed a lovely easy reach,
picked up a public mooring ball, put on
wet suits and jumped into the crystal clear waters – this is definitely more
like it. We snorkelled to the tiny white
sand island which is a protected nesting colony for Terns. Extraordinary as Michaelmas Cay is a tourist
trip destination so hundreds of people descend on it each day from Cairns and
Port Douglas to sit on the tiny square of sand not occupied with nesting Terns. The Terns seem quite happy with the
arrangement and nest alongside all the visitors. We swam ashore after the tourist boats had
left and every bit of the tiny sand cay is covered with them except the area
the tourists sit on. A family of giant
angel fish and 2 large grouper had taken up residence under Gaviota when we
returned- we have our own aquarium.
Next morning we discovered the unfortunate bi-product of anchoring off an island of Terns is a boat covered in SHIT!!!!!!
