Today was to be our last day in Exmouth so we had to leave immediately after breakfast as we had a tour booked for a cruise in a glass bottomed boat on the Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. The sun was shining as we once again took the coast road through the Cape Range National Park to Tantabiddi Boat Ramp. We were met at the ramp by Alek, our Captain/Tour Guide for the cruise, and it was not long before we were just a short distance off the coast directly over the Heritage Listed Ningaloo Reef. The Reef features pristine hard and soft coral formations and a stunning array of beautiful tropical fish. Alek is very knowledgeable and passionate about the fish and the coral in the reef. He pointed out all the varieties of fish and gave us details about the different coral formations. He manoeuvred the boat very skilfully so had a wonderful view through the glass. At some stages we were so close that there was only centimetres between the coral and the glass bottom of the boat. We saw a great number of very colourful small and large fish and even saw a Leopard Shark that was about 3 metres long. Alek told us we were very lucky to see the shark as there had been only 4 sightings this season. We had a fantastic cruise, the conditions were perfect and it was very exciting for us to see the Reef and the marine life. We took many photos but sadly they have not come out well because of the reflections in the glass so we will have to put it all in our memory bank.
Back in town after the cruise we filled up the car in preparation for our onward journey tomorrow then drove around the housing estate built around a very expansive marina that had many beautiful boats moored. The estate is not yet completed but will be quite stunning and a feature of Exmouth in the future.
Later in the afternoon we did some cleaning of the caravan and a visit from two very inquisitive emus. Wendy received a shock and would have climbed on top of the van if she could. We had a vry enjoyable 3 hour Happy Hour with Sue and Russell, fellow Victorian campers from the site next door, then a late dinner before bed. |
| The glass bottom boat - the only one operating on the reef. |
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| Some of the coral - the photos were not good because of reflection. |
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| A blurry photo of the rare leopard shark. |
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| Some of the new marine type housing. |
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| Some money here. |
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| Too far for a family holiday house. |
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| All the trees in Exmouth had been stripped bare by cyclone winds leaning at 75 deg. |
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| This emu liked Wendy but wasn't welcome. |
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