Exmouth WA

Tuesday 8th May 2018
To say I had an amazing today is the biggest understatement in the universe. It is now 8.30pm and I have been back from my Whale Shark Dive since 3.30pm and I am still buzzing. It was awesome, fantabulous, extraordinary and one of the most amazing things I have ever done. To all my surf buddies who have given me the confidence to spend time in the ocean and to go so outside my comfort zone. I THANK YOU from the bottom of my heart. To David and Kristen for all your moral support this morning and encouragement to have a go. THANK YOU.

WOW!!!

3 Islands Shark Dive were so fantastic. Their staff was so young and exuberant, mind you who wouldn’t be with a job like that but it is the photographer’s 7th season so you would think they would maybe get bored but they were fantastic. They showed us the most incredible time. The day started with a little boat ride our to the bigger boat “Drawcard” where we were kitted up with snorkel, goggles, fins and a stinger suit. The suit was needed as they have had 6 cases of Irukandji jellyfish stings in the Ningaloo Marine Park since 18th April with treatment in hospital. So once we were all organised we went for an initial snorkel to test equipment and ability in the water so we could be split in to 2 groups. Lucky for me today we only had 15 on the boat instead of 20 so we swam in groups or 7 or 8. This allowed more vision so was great. They had a plane in the air spotting the whale sharks. Once spotted the photographer Amy got in the water and located the whale shark, she indicated which way it was swimming and then the 1st group got in the water. Lined up and waited for the whale shark to come towards us. As it approached you put your face in the water and watched. Once the pectoral fins were past us we then swam as fast as you could beside the whale shark to watch it. Some whale sharks swam faster than others, some were bigger than others (from 5-10m long). This was such a buzz. Once group 1 had swum for a bit and the whale shark was out swimming them, group 2 got in the water. Amy continued to swim with the whale shark and directed group 2 in to position and they repeated the same process. Then Group 1 again, then Group 2. When group 2 went in for the 2nd dive the whale shark dived down deep. They can dive down about 1500m. So we lost that one. Time too hop back in the boat and wait for the plane to spot another one. They had the small boat following to pick up any stragglers if necessary.

Whilst we waited to enter the water for my first dive with the whale shark my legs were shaking, I was nervous, scared and very unsure of the situation, but once in the water I didn’t think of irukandji, sharks or anything else, just keeping up with the whale shark. My first 2 swims were amazing I was right beside the whale shark for a very long way. Very grateful for my swimming training and practise with flippers, and also for the last couple of days snorkel practise. We then swam another 3 times with the whale shark. The last time the whale shark swam directly towards us and we saw it face on at a short distance before it swam away and we chased it. It was about 10 metres long and its mouth was about 1 metre wide. It was the best experience ever!! I hope the photos from Amy are really good. We were able to swim only about 3 metres away from the whale shark. So COOL!!!

After this we had a lovely lunch followed by another snorkel back on the reef. Here we saw an incredible number of fish, all sorts, colours, patterns, and sizes. We also had a visit from a white tipped reef shark which I followed for a little while. And also a logger head turtle which unfortunately I din’t see. And we saw a smaller turtle and sting ray on the sandy bottom.

Whilst on the boat we had 2 sightings of dugongs, 2 sightings of humpback dolphins who were very friendly today (normally they are a bit snobby and run away), we saw a manta ray breach the water which was so cool, and we saw 3 dingoes on the bus on the way to the jetty this morning. The crew said we were incredibly lucky as some days they don’t see any other animals. Well I must say I am still buzzing and will remember this day for the rest of my life.

DB had an explore of the Cape Range National Park today, getting ready for a more detailed adventure in there tomorrow.

I will post a couple of pics from today and will let you know when I post the professional pics so you can come back and have a look.

: On the bus on my way to the whale shark dive with 3 Islands whale shark dive..

: ..we started the day out well with a couple of dingoes crossing the road..

: ..then onto the little boat..

: ..and then onto Draw Card. Jake Taylor and Nos were there to greet us..

: Our boat for the day Draw Card.

: The crew were so young but personality plus. They did an aeroplane safety demonstration for our diving with little models and great humour. It was very entertaining…The private spotter plane flies around looking for a whale shark. Then you dive in the water and follow instructions from there..

: ..there is to be no riding the back of the whale shark.

: Trevor and Nos the driver on the right

: We then headed out to the reef for our snorkel practice..

: ..I met up with another solo swimmer today, Jackie..

: We saw some humpback dolphins and …

: ..and dugongs along the way. We also saw a manta ray breach the water, it was so cool.

: Georgia pointing to the dugongs

: ..Once at the reef it was time to get kitted up..

: … We had our orientation snorkel, so they could ascertain ability and assign groups for the whale shark swim. This is me snorkelling..

: ..we saw many fish, lots similar to the ones I had already seen as well as some new ones…

: ..once again it was fantastic. I love it..

: ..we even saw this turtle..

: ..and this stingray on the ocean floor..

: ..Georgia dived down to have a closer look..

: ..The stingray was so cool.

: Now this is what we came for a swim with the whale shark. They can grow to about 18m in length with a mouth about 1 metre wide..

: ..they have smaller fish come along for the ride..

: This is me with the whale shark about 3m away from me. You swam along just behind its pectoral fin. It was so amazing. I was out in front with amazing view of everything. It was so unbelievable.

: Group photo with Georgia after our first dive. Woohoo!! It was so amazing..

: I am on the RHS here. Kicking my little heart out, lucky my kicking with flippers is better than my swimming, I kept up for a long time.

: The markings on the whale shark is unique to each one, so they photograph this section of each one we swim with for NPWS…

: ..They also try to determine the sex of each one but not until we have had a couple of successful dives..

: Another one. I am closest to the whale shark doing a bit of swimming as well to keep up..

: ..the last dive the whale shark came straight towards us, you didn’t quite know where to go so we just stayed still and watched in awe at the size of its open mouth with little fish inside, so COOL!!!!!

: ..it was also about 10m in length..

: ..so a really big one. SO SO SO COOL!!!!!

: After the whale shark dives of which we have 5 in total, we then had a lovely lunch, then another snorkel, where we had a little white tip reef shark encounter. With excitement I followed it, do you believe that. They did tell me they would run away when they saw us, which it did.

: Here are a couple of pictures of the fish..

: ..we saw so many more..

: ..but not many captured on film. They are in my memory bank forever..

: We then settled in for the trip back from the reef to shore.

: Group photo at the end of an amazing day.

: What a day. I LOVED IT!!!

: Thanks to Captain Nos for a great day.

: My sticker to prove I had swum with the whale shark

: DB’s accomplishment today. One of the driving lights snapped off. We were told they wouldn’t make the distance on the Gibb River Road but we haven’t even made it there yet and they are gone. They are now removed so won’t have to worry about losing them later.

: DBs travels for the day in the Cape Range National Park, previewing tomorrow’s adventure. 145km