White Heaven

Waking up in the cramped quarters with the noise of the engine ticking over at 5:30am I was surprised I was the last one up giving that I was sleeping almost on top of the engine and even more surprised I could get up given the intoxicating smell of diesel fumes all night.

Clear Water

First port of call this morning was Whitehaven Beach on Whitsunday Island claimed to be the 3rd best beach in the world with 98% silica pure white sand good enough to clean any silver jewelry you may have. Guess there are more than a few treasure hunters out with metal detectors after the crowds have moved on.

Climbing up to the lookout above the bay gave us our first view of the beach. Verdict: dunno if 3rd best is high enough.

From the lookout

Down at beach level the water was swarming with stingrays which soon legged it whenever you got close though but given the numbers of them you were guaranteed a few close encounters with them.

After taking plenty of 'get jealous' pictures it was back on board HMS WillSheFloat passing some turtles in the water on the way to Mackerel Bay on Hook Island for a spot of diving.

With only two of us on board being certified divers it was just the 3 of us taking the plunge with Ludo the ship's French chef joining Team Japan and myself. The poor visibility didn't help much but we still saw a blue spotted lagoon ray and some big coral formations although it did feel like we were just diving off a beach rather than on the Great Barrier Reef although the islands are technically in the middle of it.

Good Sailing Weather

While the rest of the boat got some introductory dives Team Japan and I paired up again did some snorkeling seeing more fish than when we were diving yet still no turtles about here unfortunately.

With someone having a momentary lapse of sanity, or a few zzz's, I found myself at the wheel sailing us along back to tongue bay for the night with the water being a little too rough to stay where we where.

Dinner and a few drinks later we retired to bed being talked into sleeping on the deck by Team England. Lying there watching the clear sky full of stars some shooting across the horizon with the gentle lap of the water breaking against the side of the boat it was a beautiful nig..."JA, I ZEE SOW MONY STARS" "EET IZ VANDERFULL"

Looking Good

Granted Team Germany had got their beach towels down before us but they seemed to not understand each person who came up, including the captain, telling them in increasingly less polite terms to shut the hell up.

"VERE IZ MY PEE LOW?".

Stingray

White Heaven