This morning we were hopeful of getting out for a third day in a row to the kayak buoys offshore at Osprey. We hadn’t made it to ‘buoy 2’ (my naming) in the previous two snorkelling expeditions. However, when we woke it was clear the wind had come in a bit stronger than the forecast and we weren’t going anywhere. That opened the door to a much appreciated slow morning, with Kerri even cooking breakfast and fitting in some more craft.

We met Jase and Sue at Turquoise Bay late morning (see featured photo). This location is known as a ‘drift snorkel’ spot where you enter the water and just drift down to the point above the fish and coral and get out before doing it all again. Well, that sounded like a good plan. We arrived close to turn of tide so there wasn’t much in the way of drifting, and the water was st*ffing freezing (even with wetsuits on)! For the first time ever, I was the first out of the water with numb toes and generally too cold to appreciate the life below the surface. Unfortunately I exited the water too early and missed an 80kg groper/cod (the jury is still out on exactly what it was with the rest of the crew that saw it with no camera in tow).

To warm up we walked the beach area and I put the drone up. With the temps hitting 25 degrees in the wind I started to feel better…

Once we had thawed, we headed back to the Oyster Stacks as they are closed for the next 3 days and then we leave the area. It was so much more sheltered here and I’m absolutely sure the water was at least 3 degrees warmer. Before we knew it we’d been in the water for an hour and we were pruned. We said our goodbyes and headed back to shower and appreciate the day.

When we arrived back at camp, the wind was really dropping off. We checked the wind forecast and literally the best conditions since we’d arrived were happening before sunset. As we have to leave Osprey tomorrow morning we abandoned shower plans and headed straight back out on the kayaks to ‘buoy 2’. Such an easy paddle of around 4km in beautiful conditions and a lovely snorkel at a new location on the reef. We paddled back with the sun setting, watching turtle heads popping out of the water. Such a great and exhausting day. To top it off, when we arrived back at shore I decided to head out to see if I could find another massive turtle, but the light was fading and Bob was sitting on shore dreaming of a warm shower so I headed back in.

Underwater photos today are a mix of all the 4 snorkelling locations – I’ve lost track of what was where although pretty sure most are from the Oyster Stacks. We move on tomorrow a few km north where we will spend 3 nights with the Scott’s. Not sure I’ll be getting in the water tomorrow though…

The Scott’s stayed south of Yardie Creek today. They have explored the coast for 9km north of their camp, seeing rock pools, coral cliffs and sandy beaches. They headed to South Lefroy after lunch and enjoyed a drift snorkel, with a turtle and two sharks amongst the sightings.