Luck, a readiness to work with the weather and a great deal of experience reef hopping means we are enjoying our second week at the Swain Reefs in light to moderate conditions.
This week we have spent time at Surprise and Merv Reefs, giving our buddies on Thor a taste of what this wild place has to offer. Each reef looks and feels different. We have been at the Swain Reefs for 11 days of curiosity, observation and appreciation. And we are still going, with possibly another 10 days to go!
We have the routine down pat. Twice a day we turn Starlink on, our satellite communication, download our emails and the updated forecast on MetEye and PredictWind, look at what might be possible to do, then discuss options with Thor. Together, we peer over the satellite maps, identify anchorages, plot our routes, and organise our activities with wind and tide in mind.
Surprise Reef
Every morning, we watched very vocal groups of terns fishing for bait fish.
The very low tide in the middle of the day made for interesting drone shots, flying just a few meters above the water.
Under the surface was just as interesting. Being there for several days, we snorkeled at different spots. Surprise showed all of us there is still hope for patches of healthy coral and a multitude of fish of all sizes. It was not all in perfect health, and the visibility was not great, but good enough to keep us exploring. Everywhere we looked, something special caught our attention through movement, colour and texture: balls of bait fish herded by Painted Sweetlips and Trevallies, clouds of Pullers and Damsels swimming among thickets of branching corals and tiers of plate corals in beiges and purples, the occasional white tip sharks patrolling.
Here is a sample of what we saw.
Mervs Reef
At Merv Reef, a new one for us, we were there in nil wind at first, anchored comfortably in a large sandy patch. These were rare moments of total calmness which made all activities effortless. We then weathered a change there and are still here as we post this.
We had a great snorkel along the outside edge of the reef you can see in the panoramic aerial. A near glass out and low tide offered perfect conditions for split shots. Over/under images are hard to get in anything but calm and shallow water, so Chris had a field day with these.
That night we had the most beautiful, peaceful dusk with soft pink light. Then by morning the weather front came in and we stayed put for the day.
One of the pleasures of these remote reefs is the ability to catch our own glorious food: painted crays, coral trout and sweetlips feature highly on the menu for both boats, courtesy of spearo Wade.
It is lovely seeing Åse and Mike experiencing something different to what they are used to and enjoying the fruit of their hard work on Thor. Boats can gobble up your time, energy and money. It is easy to become their slave while chasing the elusive finish line of endless refurbishments. So we are relieved they are cruising again, and pleased they trust us to be their guide in the Swain labyrinth.
This is it for this week! There are so many beautiful images to post, but we are a long way offshore, so on internet rations. When we are back along the coast, we will share more photos.
Sv-Anui 
Hello and thank you – whenever you are able to read my message! I have followed you quite awhile now and seen so many wonderful photos . . . but methinks my ‘odd’ favourite is the one of Wade’s arm out of the water with the cray! No need for a trip to the Sydney Fish Market 🙂 ! Glad you are having such a long, settled period in a place you enjoy and from which you are still learning and now happily teaching! And thank you for the fantastic reef photos . . . placing them next to one another displays the immense variety on show. Hope the weather continues to be reasonable and ‘see’ya’ next week . . . shall repost methinks . . .
Morning Eha, yes each reef is different and within each the bommies and walls are home to different critters. This time at both reefs the most striking was being in the middle of thick, fast morphing bait balls: millions of tiny fish moving as one!
As for the feeds, thanks to Wade’s spearing skills, both boats crews are kept well fed! And he of course has fun doing it! Bengie loves the coral trout too!
Oww . . . a big tummy-rub to lucky Bengie . . . all the pussies I write to will be ‘disgusted’ with what is in their bowl . . . ) ! I better not tell . . .
They’ll be green with envy! She was stealing from our plate of sashimi last night when we were not looking!
Very beautiful photos as always, guys! I have to ask, what is that creature in the last photo? It looks mechanical and painted gold. 🤭
Hi John, the last photo is a spear through the crayfish… a Painted Crayfish with brilliant colours. In Queensland you are allowed to spear these.
Wow! That’s so amazing, thanks!! 😊🇦🇺
Chris, you have perfected those over/under shots. Fantastic playground
Hello Graham, the split shots are fun to get, but it is rare we get these conditions! We certainly have lucked out with the weather.
Such great conditions for you! We’re both now extremely jealous and hoping the weather window arrives for us next week to head north from Sydney!
Good to hear surprise reef is still living up to its name too!
Hi Helene, yes it is a relief. The two big bommies behind where you were anchored last time were excellent on the north and east sides! We miss you though! Hope you get the weather to take off.
It’s looking promising!!
Good! We had some stronger stuff last night and today -20 to 25 knots – but it calms down again as far as we can see with the forecasts.
I enjoyed seeing the colours on that oyster photo. Don’t think I’ve seen an open one underwater before.
They are not common – we have only seen two in all our time at the reef!
Amazing shots on the drone and low tide and split shots!! Sounds like your friends had an adventure and a fresh seafood meal with you all.
Thanks Esther! Yes It’s very much a new experience for them.
Lots of memories!
Hi Wade and Chris
Great post as usual.
I’m currently on a crewing gig in Vanuatu. Six days 10 hrs from Southport.
Enjoying being boatless at present whilst building a house on Coochie in Moreton Bay.
I’d love to catch up next time you’re in the MB area
Hey Simon, you have been spending a bit of time up there! We are coming back south in early October. Coochimudlo sounds fun! Used to have an uncle there!
Look forward to a catch up if you have a day or so spare.