What an ahhh…mazing swim this morning! So clear with such a lot of marine life around and what’s more a Turtle! A small Green Turtle with a tracker on it’s back. I heard about him from the early swimmers and found him near Shelly Beach and then again later on near the shed! Luckily lots of swimmers got to share this amazing experience!
There were around 250 swimmers today on this warm, sunny morning. The water temp was 22 degrees and we had 9 newbies! There were a few little stingy things as in sea lice but nothing too serious. Looking on the bright side I think the sea lice give all the other creatures lots to nibble at, and so everything appears!
The morning started off with a gorgeous sunrise…
…and always nice to see Peter who finds walking difficult at the moment but never has any problems swimming 🙂
Marije was overjoyed when we saw the Turtle swimming close to the rocks at Shelly Beach
Some of the Babewatch Crew who saw the Turtle too…
Murray trying to look away from the camera when I caught him with the Turtle 😉
Lucy and the Turtle
Bibiana and the Turtle
Angela and Bibi with the Turtle
There was a Wobbegong off Shelly too!
Fiddler Ray
Mados and Luderick
Old Wives over the Crayweed
School of Squid near the point. I didn’t get a photo of the Duskies but I did see 2 on my second swim!
Rick from Ottowa, Canada celebrated his birthday with his first B&B swim today!
It wasn’t Lucy’s b’day but she enjoyed her first swim with Dave, Gareth and Kirsten
It was actually quite calm but I managed to get Jill, Matt and Sarah being hit by a wave!
Roz and Henrietta…Kate and Andre
Eagle Ray
Banded Wobbegong yesterday
Gary the Groper yesterday
Have an amazing day folks and try and get in the water soon! Conditions like these don’t last! Videos I always find hard to post on blog but you can go to my Facebook page Manly Mermaid or I’ll post on swimmers page later
Lainey Loo
The Monthly Dinner – 10th March 2020 – Wine Tasting
The next B&B monthly dinner will be held on Tuesday 10th March at 6.30 pm at Bluewater Restaurant. Special guest, David Webster, will present the range of Bold and Beautiful wines especially for B&B members and their friends. The Bold and Beautiful wines were born out of the idea of creating a village wine for Manly. The wines comprise two wines made in the Hunter Valley by rising star James Becker of M&J Becker Wines. The red, “The Beautiful”, is a Shiraz Viognier blend made in a very light style perfect for summer drinking. The white, “The Bold”, is 100% Chardonnay made in a fruit forward style with strong Chardonnay flavours but low oak usage. Once you have tasted the wines, you can purchase bottles through the restaurant to enjoy over dinner.
Please book early for this event as it is sure to be popular. The cost of the dinner is great value at only $25 a head, which includes shared entrees, and a selection of mains to choose from (including a vegetarian option). Glasses of beer or wine and desserts are also available at the special price of only $5 each (please note, NO BYO). Numbers are limited, so bookings are essential. To avoid disappointment and secure your spot please book at www.boldandbeautifulmanly.com.au/bb-bluewater-monthly-dinner.html .
HAVE YOUR SAY!!
DPI has placed its Shark Management Strategy community survey on public release. Here is a link to the survey: https://www.
Through the Strategy, DPI has trialled a series of shark management/mitigation methods at a number of NSW ocean beaches. The trials aim to increase protection of beachgoers, while minimising harm to sharks and other marine animals. DPI is interested in obtaining the views of the community regarding their support and preferences for shark mitigation at NSW ocean beaches.
13 comments
Jac
25/02/2020 at 11:39 am
Great pics of the turtle lainey!!
Marije
25/02/2020 at 11:41 am
Best swim. Love the turtle photos 🐢💚
Shelley K
25/02/2020 at 12:37 pm
OMG so jealous I missed the swim this morning! You shoulda been in Sales, Lainey
Anne
25/02/2020 at 2:17 pm
omg you have lifted the blogging bar Lainey. Brilliant!
Lainey
25/02/2020 at 4:48 pm
I was so lucky to see him swimming in sunlight!
Lainey
25/02/2020 at 4:49 pm
Thanks Shelley. Always lovely to read your comments and I know the other bloggers feel the same 😊
Lainey
25/02/2020 at 4:50 pm
A lucky day Anne but it will be my last blog until April as I’ll be away
Jenny Andrew
25/02/2020 at 5:11 pm
Fabulous photos. Thanks Lainey.
Christine Chadwick
25/02/2020 at 8:09 pm
WEll done Lainey thank you for sharing! Sorry I missed the turtle but loved my swim!
John Lonergan
25/02/2020 at 8:22 pm
I understand the joy of a random encounter with a turtle. But these photos make me sad. Alone, tagged, tracked and chased; this is not how these magnificent animals are meant to live…
Gemma
25/02/2020 at 10:15 pm
Fabulous shots, Lainey!
Ali
27/02/2020 at 11:00 pm
Wow what an awesome swim!! You’ve inspired me to go out tomorrow morning
Paul E
03/03/2020 at 1:21 pm
John, I don’t think you need feel to sad for our visiting turtle. Sea turtles are essentially solitary animals, although breeding aggregations may occur near nesting beaches, so any turtle this far south is bound to be alone, as it would be for most of its life.
The the initial process of being tagged may well have happened while the turtle was in care, prior to release and tagging would likely have been one of the less stressful moments of an ailing animal going through rehab. Assuming this the case, the fact it was well enough to be released is a positive outcome to be celebrated.
Tracking wildlife is a valid and valuable tool in wildlife conservation. It’s often how zoologists and ecologists gain valuable data and knowledge, often critical to our understanding and conservation of species. The ongoing wearing of both tag and tracker would be of no impediment to the turtle.
As for being chased, it’s certainly not what I witnessed. Yes, a few swimmers (including me) dived down for a closer look at the turtle, though it certainly didn’t appear threatened by our presence or behaviour. If it was, it would have disappeared with quickly with a flick of a flipper. The fact that it’s been staying in the bay indicates it probably doesn’t perceive us as as either a predator or nuisance.
Embrace the turtle! (…….though not literally)