John Meyers from Vermont, USA was keen to visit the Great Barrier
Reef during his pilgrimage to Avatar's Abode in June 2018 to attend the 60th
Anniversary Celebration of Avatar Meher Baba's visit to the Sunshine Coast
property which was purchased and developed as a Pilgrimage Centre for Him in
1958. He gave it its name during His 4-day stay.
John chose to visit the
southern end of the Great Barrier Reef owing to an absence of coral bleaching
events thus far, and for its reputation as being home to the largest gatherings
of Manta Rays in the world. Access if via light aircraft from either
Hervey Bay or Bundaberg.
Charmaine and I had entertained
accompanying other overseas pilgrims who wished to visit the Reef during their
visit, but that trip did not come to pass, so John was aware of my interest in
visiting the Island, and my desire to dive with the Manta Rays.
When he approached me about
accompanying him, I was hesitant to spend that much money for just a one night
stay with no guarantee about water visibility. I suggested he take a bus
alone to Hervey bay and fly from there. He responded to my suggestion
with an offer to pay my return flight, on the basis that we would drive the 3
hours to Hervey Bay very early in the morning so we could take the 8 am
departure, and then return late the following afternoon. I would pay for
my share of the accommodation and meals. I agreed to his proposal, and he
went ahead and purchased tickets for two straight away.
We had the time of our
lives. Lady Elliot is a simple, yet very attractive, low key resort, with
breakfast and dinner included. There is great diving straight off the
beach - just as good as if you paid to be taken out the 150 m to the Bombies in
the Scuba dive boat which is also very popular.
Enormous variety of fish, big
and small. Wall to wall coral, earthier shades than the mid and northern
reefs, but a fantastic variety. Very well marked Entry and Exit points
for off-the-beach diving, and ropes between big Buoys to pull yourself along, as
you snorkel. It makes for very fun, safe and easy snorkelling for
beginners and competent divers.
And for those who are just
average or better swimmers, the second Buoy out from the Lighthouse Entry
Point, is where you see Manta Rays galore, swimming around the Bombies so small
fish can clean them of the things that want to grow on them.
Unfortunately, John began to experience Atrial Fibrillation, and we had to stop
at the first Buoy and hang on till it subsided enough so we could make our way
back to shore.
We had not seen any Mantra Rays
and I was uncertain whether we would be in luck, but I was not
disappointed. When we arrived back near at the shore, I saw an American
teenage girl who looked like she was hoping she might find someone to go out
with her. She said she was a competent swimmer, and we made it out to the
second Buoy in about 5-10 minutes, and we saw 4 Mantas which made the trip a
great success.
On our return there was another
person was waiting for a dive partner, an English woman in her 30s who had seen
lots of Mantas while scuba-diving the day before, and I accompanied her out to
the second Buoy as well. She had a GoPro with her and when we arrived we
saw 5 circling the Bombies, and then 7 swam past in a row heading to where the
scuba-divers were sitting of the bottom taking photos and looking around.
The water was only about 6 m deep and I nearly made it down to pick up a lost
dive knife I could see near the scuba divers, but without a weight belt, it is
hard to dive very deep.
There are other activities such
as reef waking, and even surfboard riding, I won't go into. I can't speak
highly enough about what a great place Lady Elliot is to visit. One
overnight stay is actually all you need if you arrive early and leave
late. The flight was about $400 return, and my share of the accommodation
and meals was $300.
I recommend, Go For It
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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