Life at Minerva reef
Nickanddenisesailing
Thu 9 Nov 2017 19:03
So we have just woken up on what we think is our last full day at Minerva. Looks like we will leave tomorrow (Friday 10th) for NZ. We are waiting on our 'GO' confirmation email from Bob - which we are expecting today - all being well.... We are all like excited school girls waiting for a message from a crush. Come on the Bob!!!
But we have really been making the most of life at Minerva reef while we have been waiting. Its such an amazing place. We are anchored inside the reef - which keeps us well protected from the weather outside most of the time. At high tide the water washes over the reef and it gets a bit lumpy in the lagoon and we have to make sure we dont spill our beers. Generally its very comfortable and there are lots of underwater places and exposed reef areas to explore.
We have been mainly snorkeling and spearfishing around the bommies close to the boat, but the boys (Ryan and Ben) managed to catch up with some friends of ours on Blue Bell and headed out through the pass in the reef, in their dinghy a couple of days ago. They managed to fish just outside the pass and came back with a large blue fin trevally and some 'it was this big' and 'you should have seen the ones we lost' fishing stories. Meanwhile Nick and I went bommie exploring and I got my hands around a large crayfish which didnt want to budge from his home under the reef, and Nick shot us a large beautiful peacock grouper. Dinner that night was a treat of garlic crumbed grouper fillets with a lemon creamy, green veggie taglatelle.
After all the excitement surrounding the pass we decided that we all really must go and snorkel it. We teamed up with 3 other boats in the anchorage to make our plan. We would take 2 yachts, with people from 4 boats. So the guys (Simon and Cate) from Bluebell came with us, and the Norwegian family on Ghost took a lovely danish couple from Marguriette with them (it was Claus' birthday). We had decided on 'saftey in numbers'.
We sailed over yesterday afternoon after an early morning reef explore. Due to the tides we had to get up about 7am to make to most of it. The boys were all cold so I was the only one who got in the water. The guys did some fishing off the dry (ish) reef. We then had the Bluebell team over for crepes for breakfast to repay them for an amazing bbq rib dinner a couple of weeks ago. We then did 'post breakfast naps' in preperation for the 'Birthday excursion' to the pass.
Once we were anchored up near the pass, and after a quick lunch we prepared the 'dinghy armarda' and headed to the pass. The current was running gently out and we all floated next to the dinghys in the current. After all the reports we only saw a couple of curious grey reef sharks. The reef on the outside was breathtakingly beautiful - some of the best coral we have seen. A true underwater metropolis. Lots of stunning coloured corals and so many fish!! Some really big ones too! After we finished the snorkel Nick, Ben and I headed back into the reef to see what spearfishing options there were, while Ryan stayed with Cate and Simon for more fishing. We didnt find much on the inside and the boys were getting a bit cold (lacking in wetsuits) so we decided to take one last look at the pass (and the GIANT grouper we had seen). Ben and I would spot for Nick and grab the gun (which at this point was now tied onto the dinghy) once he had shot it. We would all make sure we got back int
o the
dinghy ASAP (to avoid the sharks). But after much exploring - no grouper was located and we were all getting cold. Back to the boat for tea and snickers roundy bread.
The fishing team soon also headed back to the boat- with 2 monster fish in hand. One large amberjack and another large bluefin trevally. Just as we were all celebrating and Ben had started the filleting process we hear a shout and just off the back of the boat - literally at the swim ladder is a giant 13ft female tiger shark!!! Ben shouted but couldnt get his words out and we all came running. It was one of the most amazing creatures I have ever seen. She had obvioulsy smelt the blood and come in for a closer look. With all the commotion the guys from Ghost bravely got in their dinghy and came over to Sold the Farm to checkout the action. The 'Shiger' (tiger shark combined in excited language haha) stayed around the boat for over an hour, politely taking the scraps of fish that we threw to her. After feeding her the frames of the fish that were caught Ben and Simon headed off for round 2 of fishing outside the pass again. Cate, Nick, Ryan and I stayed on board and watched wi
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total amazement as another Tiger shark (smaller - about 9-10ft) came to check out the action. By this stage there were also a number of small grey reef sharks hanging out - but the hierarchy was very clear and none of the others came close while 'big Mamma' was on on scene. She truely was beautiful with her amazing stripes and gentle placid movements. It was only when we tied some fish on a rope for her that we got a real sense of her capabilities. She was so strong and between 4 people we couldnt get the rope back. Everyone from both boats got a stack of underwater and above water video footage - so one day we will show you I am sure. We stayed till the sun was getting lower and the boys came back. Another 2 massive fish! Another large amber jack and a large job fish. We were pushing it a little for time so we rushed the boys and the fish in - in the process dropping their dinghy keys in the water! We all stood on the back of the boat yelling 'dont eat the boat keys!!!' as t
he
tiger shark headed in straight for them. Luckily she just nudged them while Nick and I jumped into the dinghy to go and retrive them. A quick pluck out the water and we were back in buisness. We all then enjoyed some cold beers and some incredible video footage on the motor back over to the anchorage. WHAT A DAY.
So that was yesterday and today will most likley involve jobs and getting ready for departure.....all being well.
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