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Coral Bay update
When we'd got to Coral Bay Peoples Park, having been told everything was full. The kind lady at the reception said she could probably squeeze us in on a pitch at the top of the site, but we could look at it first to make sure we could get on it OK. Well it was massive and we reckon we could have got two of us on it. In the morning we realised that we were amongst true glampers, looking at the boats, caravans, huge tent extensions etc, though there were a few little tents dotted around the edge of a very nice site.
We miss out on the morning reef snorkelling trip and book on to an afternoon one though the warning is that the wind may get up. This proves to be the case and for an amateur snorkeller like me this is quite difficult as half the Indian Ocean seems attracted to the end of my snorkel with each swell. Still the trick with the vaseline on the moustache does seem to help prevent the mask totally filling up with water as well as the snorkel. After all the tribulations though we do get some great views of some blue and green corals amongst the mainly brown and yellowy colours. No reds to my disappointment. Also a great view of a turtle (believe to be a loggerhead looking at the pictures afterwards) serenely cruising by a few metres underneath us totally at ease with the world. Some of the lads on the boat say they saw reef sharks, but they probably bolted from us having taken one look so we never saw any.
Sign up for a manta ray trip next day. My swimming 'prowess' is being stretched to the limit but we still get a good view because the mantas cruise back and forward feeding on the bottom and although we're at the back of the pack of 10 swimmers, the manta takes pity on us and comes back underneath. Feeling knackered but satisfied that I've achieved the aim, I nearly don't go in for the next dive, but one of the party leaders takes pity and gives me a tow as the dash from one location to the next is at fast pelt. The reward is to see the manta doing total rollovers right beneath Angie and I. You can see the small fish going into its mouth though apparently they are not eaten as the ray is feeding on plankton. Nice grub and banter back on the boat as we head back to shore with everyone in good spirits. Oh we also saw a green turtle in amongst the many fishes.
Must also mention the perente (very large lizard) about 1-2 metres in length seen walking under parked cars including our camper. Causes quite a stir particularly with some Japanese tourists. I love them...big, harmless, ugly but with a turn of pace if they really want to move (the perente, not the Japanese tourists).
Coral Bay was capped off when Angie states blissfully that the fish of the day meal she has at the local small restaurant is probably the best fish meal she has ever had. Now that's some statement. I celebrate surviving with a 'beef and reef' (commonly known as surf and turf elsewhere) recognising that I'm much more a beef than reef man, though I do like a good fish dish.
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