A group of very excited scuba divers with Great Adventures Cruises at Green Island were treated to a rare encounter with a young adult dugong. Estimated to be around 2 metres in length, this was the first dugong sighting recorded by Great Adventures divers at Green Island in several years. It was also the first ever sighting for videographer Dan Liu and two very lucky introductory divers on holiday from Ballarat Victoria. “It was so exciting to see! He was very curious swimming near us as the group were diving on a nearby coral bommie. He came close within about 4 metres, swimming away and then coming back for another look before swimming off over the seagrass beds,” said Dan Liu. Dugongs, often called sea cows, as they graze shallow seagrass meadows (eating up to 40kg a day!) are found across the tropical belt in Australia. They reach a length of 3 metres, live up to 70 years of age and can weigh as much as 400kg. Dugongs are fascinating mammals, sharing a common ancestor with elephants, and early sailors are believed to have confused them for mythical mermaids. They are most closely related to the manatee, their northern hemisphere relative. They resemble a large dolphin but lack a dorsal fin and have an upper lip covered in thick bristles. They are well designed for aquatic life, with nostrils situated on top of their heads so they can breathe, and have a large, strong tail that propels them through the water. Their eyes and ears are on the side of their heads. Although their eyesight is poor, they have an acute sense of hearing.” Dugong are threatened on a worldwide scale and in Australia, are a protected species under various legislation including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975. This important sighting will be reported to GBRMPA’s Eye on the Reef monitoring program contributing valuable information about these endangered creatures as well as the long-term protection and management of the reef. Video credit Dan Liu, Island Photography Australia

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Giorno 12 - ADRIATICO Questa mattina ci siamo svegliati dopo una notte perfetta. Chi ha letto i racconti dei giorni scorsi saprà benissimo quanto eravamo in privazione di sonno. D’altronde, siamo abituati a dare maggior valore a qualcosa nel momento in cui la tal cosa viene a mancare e il sonno non fa eccezione. Insieme a un risveglio di ottimo umore, annoveriamo tra gli eventi degni di nota una gatta particolarmente affettuosa (oggi), che ci ha sciolto il cuore come un panetto di burro al sole. Partiamo da Trani per raggiungere Monopoli, una navigazione di circa 43 miglia, senza vento e con la solita onda di questi giorni. 7 ore di navigazione priva di grandi eventi. A Monopoli scopriamo con grande rammarico che la risacca ci ha preceduti anche qui e che ci aspetta una notte in lavatrice. Non ci mettiamo molto a decidere che la lavatrice non è sostenibile per il nostro riposo e il nostro umore, così riprendiamo il largo. Rotta verso Otranto. Tante miglia. Circa 78. Sarà la navigazione più lunga che abbiamo mai fatto (per ora). Da poppa un vento di circa 20 nodi ci spinge verso la nostra destinazione. Noi scivoliamo silenziosi su un manto così scuro da inghiottire ogni cosa, tirati solo dalla vela di prua, il genoa, a circa 6 nodi, con picchi di oltre 7. Il mare rinforza. Scopriremo domani come sarà andata a finire. Buonanotte 🙋‍♀️ Camilla #barcavela #vitainbarca #vivereinbarca #adriatico #viaggioinbarca #sailinglife #beneteau

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Journée chargée pour Jean-Pierre Dick qui a dû plonger pour vérifier son mouillage et checker son bateau.

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#Renault4 #ETech 100% #electric. bring the great outdoors inside. with a gesture or by voice, the electric "plein sudᵀᴹ" canvas sunroof opens up new perspectives. #R4 #liberté4ever learn more: https://bit.ly/3ZLO6zf

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