I am writing this several months after my trip... It has been a busy 1/2 year... It started with me returning to Barrow Island for the Turtle Tagging season as a volly. I had a wonderful time. Though it was hot at times... even too hot to swim laps in the 15 metre pool... Then there was the humidity. One day it was 42 degrees and that night we had to work. Whilst the temperature had fallen to about 38 degrees the humidity was about 99%...It was like I was going to melt... carrying my 2litres of water, Turtle Tagging Tool Book, clipboard, and trackline draging stick... Whislt stomping up 2kms of sandy turtle body hole pitted beach at 2am! But i wouldnt want it any other way.
This year I managed to not only see hatchlings, but i got to hold them for a moment. The most exciting experience was when driving back from Mushroom beach at 5am on morning we scared a bird in the road and it dropped its morning meal, of baby turtle. It was covered in red dust, but alive.... so we drove to Yatch Club South Beach to set it free... We can only hope that little hatching is still swimming out there and will one day return to Barrow Island (assuming its a girl) to lay her eggs in about 30-40 years.
The all time highlight was going snorkling for the 1st time with prescription goggles! I was so excitted as i could actually see everythink clearly underwater. I managed to swim around a bit on my own and I swam right up to a male Green Turtle. It is a memory that will stay with me for such a long time. I was so close I could have touch him... Though knowing how strong they are I just stayed still until he noticed me. I also managed to see a 2metre shovehead shark, just laying on the seabed... Magic.
This tour we got to go snorkling twice, then did tours of John Wayne country, Obe's, and Bandicote bay....
It was time to leave Barrow and I flew home on Tuesday 13th January 2009.
