Exmouth, Behind all the drama's

So today I will talk about Exmouth. Now, you might think I have written enough, but that was only the drama's!! (See posts 1, 2, 3, and 4). We actually did do other things than escape floods, fix generators, walk for water, laze in the sun, and kayak. But then again, I really can't think of anything else really important that we did...........

Just look at that water......

Anyway, we did get to visit some snorkelling spots, namely Turquiose Bay and Oyster Stacks. We visited Turquoise Bay smack on low tide, and the current was just strong enough to slowly take you over the coral. There was heaps of coloured fish, and it was fun to dive under the coral and see all the fish swimming below. The coral was not really colourful, unlike the photos you see the Great Barrier Reef coral. After some research, it is apparently because of the different types of coral that colours vary on different reefs.

Here qre some facts about coral:
- Corals are either reef building (hermatypic) or non-reef building (ahermatypic)

Oyster Stacks, crowds and all

- Hermatypic coral is only found in warm sunny waters, as there is little blue green  algae (Zooxanthellate) that live on the outer tissue layer, and produce food for the coral through photosynthesis.

- The coral around Exmouth was brown coloured due to the presence of Zooxanthellate in the outer tissue layer.

- There is three ways that coral obtain food:
1. In the tentacles, they have 'harpoon' like structures. The polyps 'fire' the harpoons, which contain toxins, into microscopic organisms. They are then ingested.

You could get pretty far out, all the way to
the end of the reef as it narrows down so
much. Reef meets the ocean.

2. Coral can also absorb food directly through their skin! Boy, wouldn't have to worry about eating again, just wallow in a bowl of spaghetti bolognaise!!

3. And, they have some one else prepare their food!! This is the function the algae that lives on the coral performs.

- Coral reefs are built of coral fragments, coral sands and solid limestone. As little as 50% may be coral. There are also other small organisms that live on the reef and contribute their penny's worth

So lets talk about the snorkelling spots (that was really fun researching the information above!!)

See? Reef to Ocean difference is obvious.

Turquoise bay was great, and the drift snorkel was good and it required a lot less kicking. We did not have enough snorkelling gear all around, but we all managed a good look. The wrasse were really colourful, as well as some other colourful fish. there was plenty of dart around, and when we got out we had fun identifying what we had seen on the sign near the carpark. 

No sharks thankfully, but we did see some blacktip reef sharks later on in our stay. At the secret snorkelling spot, where we also fished, two sharks hang around and Joel even went snorkeling with them. Thankfully they aren't aggressive. 

Osprey Bay.

Oyster Stack was not as good, mainly due to the fact that the entry to the water was diffusion and visibility poor. Joel and Chloe both managed to get slammed into an oyster stack (yes, there is some) and cut themselves up a bit.

We also took a drive down to Osprey Bay, where we got some good family photos. The water was just the right colour as a backdrop.

Tommorrow, Joel will act as guest blogger and write about some of the awesome fishing of Ningaloo Reef.