50m vis on Ribbon Reef 2 2/3, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Thursday, June 30, 2005
Thursday, June 16, 2005
Last week we got our first encounters with the Dwarf Minke whales that visit the Great Barrier Reef each year. It is one of the only places in the world where these great ocean mammals will actually seek out contact with humans, often staying with dive boats for hours on end, because of this we are actually allowed to offer in water experiences with the whales.
My first sighting was while returning back to the boat after a dive on Steve's Bommie. I was at a depth of about 5 metres swimming into blue water when I saw a flash of white between me and the boat. Later in the afternoon we moved to another reef nearby called Temple of Doom. I did a short dive on the site then returned to the boat. I hung on the anchor chain at about 7 metres for the remaining 3o minutes of my dive. The whales were about and over time they made several laps of the boat coming closer each time. I managed to get a few photos and some video footage of them before we had to leave.
I was more successful on the next trip out. Again we encountered the whales at Steve's Bommie. This time we stayed there for two dives. During the surface interval the passengers were able to snorkel with the whales off lines strung from the boat. I hung on the anchor chain after the first dive for another 30 minutes. The whales again came and did laps around the boat. Gaining confidence they eventually were passing within a couple of metres of me. It is quite an experience to be looking eye to eye with such an inquisitive 6 metre long animal.
My first sighting was while returning back to the boat after a dive on Steve's Bommie. I was at a depth of about 5 metres swimming into blue water when I saw a flash of white between me and the boat. Later in the afternoon we moved to another reef nearby called Temple of Doom. I did a short dive on the site then returned to the boat. I hung on the anchor chain at about 7 metres for the remaining 3o minutes of my dive. The whales were about and over time they made several laps of the boat coming closer each time. I managed to get a few photos and some video footage of them before we had to leave.
I was more successful on the next trip out. Again we encountered the whales at Steve's Bommie. This time we stayed there for two dives. During the surface interval the passengers were able to snorkel with the whales off lines strung from the boat. I hung on the anchor chain after the first dive for another 30 minutes. The whales again came and did laps around the boat. Gaining confidence they eventually were passing within a couple of metres of me. It is quite an experience to be looking eye to eye with such an inquisitive 6 metre long animal.
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