27 Jul 2023

Witnessing amazing wildlife above and below Ashmore Reef

As Heritage Adventurer steams out to Ashmore Reef this morning Niall, our on board bird expert, educates us on the different nesting and migrating species we would see today on the area's coral cays.  We also get excited for our first dip in the ocean, being far away from the Kimberley's crocodiles.  

With one guest describing Ashmore Reef as being better than Equador's famous archipelago the Galapagos Islands (not to be confused with our outstanding Galapagos of the Southern Ocean voyage), anticipation is high as our Zodiacs skim over the glassy water towards Australia's most remote marine park. Filing by a navy vessel anchored near the reef, we make our way onwards to the island's gleaming white shores. Although we were not permitted to land, it was high tide so we had excellent views of the resident wildlife. 

The sky was thick with birds, and we watched as parents returned from fishing to feed their young. Highly inquisitive Brown Booby birds flew particularly close, hovered above our heads with necks craned to eyeball us provided many intimate wildlife encounters, while Sea Turtles were clearly visible all around us in the gin-clear turquoise water.  Some took the opportunity to snorkel amid an array of exquisite coral before we returned to our trusty expedition vessel for dinner and evening recap as the afternoon sky turned sunburnt orange on the distant horizon.  

Image (c) by: C.Finch