The Coral Isles – day seven

I woke up at about 5:00, and could tell that I wasn’t going to get back to sleep any time soon, so I got up, grabbed the camera and headed topside.
Glad that I did, as it turned out to be a decent sunrise; a few scattered clouds on the horizon, but broken up enough for the sun to peak through.
However, shooting a sunrise (which requires a slower shutter and a tripod) from the deck of a moving vessel as you’re plowing along into a 20 knot headwind makes for a challenging assignment!
I had to position myself to the starboard side of the bow just so I could get some foreground interest (the ship), and then once I had the shot lined up, I had to physically lean on my tripod to hold it steady! Breaking all the rules, I know, but you do what you have to do, to get the shot, right?
Anyway, after getting some shots I was happy with, I headed back to the cabin to grab another hour of sleep.
Once we surfaced for breakfast, we found Champagne Bay laid out before us under a simply gorgeous South Pacific morning; bright blue sky, fluffy white clouds scattered all about. It looked like every tropical island postcard you’ve ever seen.
Sweet.
We headed off to shore and did all the usual things.
Photos first (before my hands get covered in salt and sand).
Then, a swim and some snorkeling (sans close encounters).
Although, I did see a school of about 300 fish which allowed me to get close to them. Don’t know what they were. They were each about 8-9 inches long, silver in colour, with a thin yellow stripe running along the length of the body. Very inquisitive fish.
After the snorkeling, it was back to the beach to dry off and sample a fresh (green) coconut which is absolutely beautiful stuff. Totally different to the dried coconut you buy in the shops.
Then, having left our money in the safe in our cabin, we all headed back to the ship.
Cath decided to stay there and read her book, while Max and I headed back to the beach to do a tour with one of the locals.
While it lasted the promised hour, it didn’t blow me away.
Like most of these touristy activities, time is not really given to photographers to get out and find a great shot, and to line in up and so forth.
No, these things are designed for the photographer who holds their camera at arms length.
Clearly, I’m doing it all wrong.
Anyway, despite the less than anticipated ‘tour’, Champagne Bay certainly was the idyllic tropical paradise we had been promised, and the snorkeling lived up to expectations.
Can’t complain about that!

Take me to: <- Day six | Day eight ->