Old Boat New Boat

Since the last post in 2016 much has happened.

On 28th March 2017 Cyclone Debbie hit. Illusions had minimal damage.

The day after Cyclone Debbie

 We started operating again on the 6th April. 

We even had two proposals the first day out!

 After a busy couple of weeks in not very nice weather we finally had a break in the weather on 23rd April. A glorious day....however....

At approx 1130 we hit something. Two hits, one to the hull, which pushed the object down taking a huge hunk out of the keel. Best guess is that is was a fuel or water tank from one of the numerous vessels that had gone missing from the cyclone.

All passengers were safety returned to Airlie Beach. Illusions was salvaged 3 days later but unfortunately was written off by the insurance company.

Seven months later we found and bought a new vessel who was correctly christened Illusions 2 using old renaming traditions.

 

 

It is now 5 months on and we are getting some great sailing from the vessel.

Next blog I will show the coral after the cyclone, and 12 months on!

Amazing viz

Wow we are so lucky. The weather is calm, and the viz at Blue Pearl Bay is exceptional.

We are also still seeing whales. So amazing still.

Mum and calf synchronized swimming

Northerly winds

Today we had the yucky nearly Northerly winds. It was very calm, but still felt oppressive. On days like this we head across to Ravens Cove and Nara Inlet, a gorgeous spot on Hook Island.

On the way over we had a mother whale and calf practicing their synchronized swimming. So wonderful to have got this shot of them.

Getting back to Blogging

It's been a few years since we last posted any blogs. Lots has changed, but much has stayed the same.

The boat has been refitted internally, new carpet, old carpet on walls being removed, various other modifications to the vessel have taken place.

We still do the same trip, and it is still Josef and I, Naomi, running the show.
The fish are mostly the same (though are dear friend Priscilla the Maori Wrasse has gone to the great big ocean in the sky) and we welcome a few new ones (Rambo is becoming the new male Maori Wrasse).

The diving is still great, and coral bleaching is only something heard about on the news. Honestly it hasn't affected us at Blue Pearl on Hayman Island or Langford Island at all.

Illusions Whale Watching

Josef the skipper is still up to his silly tricks

Naomi completed her 3000th dive earlier this year.

We have been welcoming many Taiwanese and Chinese visitors

And more Whales

Trialing new crew for the day!

We love our fish

Lots of Cushion Starfish around

And Flatworms too. Love watching them fly!

This Wobbegong hung around in the same spot for over a week.

New Crew

The last two days has seen Illusions with a new crew member. Hayley is a student at Proserpine High School who is doing work experience with us. She is fitting in well and today spotted this whale and calf near Black Island. Welcome to Illusions Hayley!

Whales Whales and yet more Whales

Awesome again

Another glorious day.

We saw the 2 whales from yesterday again today. They had been close into Langford Reef (check out photos on the Illusions Whitsundays facebook site) yesterday. We suspected the female was about to give birth based on her behaviour. Today we saw the 2 of them again, with a little one with them!!!!! WOW.

The viz has been great diving. Seeing Lionfish almost daily! Love these creatures.