St.Joseph Atoll & D’Arros, Amirantes Islands, Seychelles
At first light we dropped anchor at St.Joseph atoll, in the middle of Amirantes group, named by Vasco da Gama after himself (the Admiral) in early 1500s. We set out early to explore this miniature atoll, but our Zodiacs grounded on the shallow sand perimeter. Undaunted, our drivers jumped out to push, but eventually all of us had to abandon ship, pushing across the shallows until we reached deeper water.
Then across the lagoon to a wild island Fouquet, named after the wedge-tailed shearwater: and it was our good luck to find one fledged youngster on the beach. After a brief Man Friday experience along the shore, a tour of the lagoon and last mass Zodiac shunt across the shallows, we crossed the deep channel to D’Arros, invited by the resident scientists on the island. We all took the opportunity to walk along the beach to lofty casuarina trees full of frigates; the sand was covered in frigate feathers from preening birds in the treetops. With a steady wind from the north, hundreds of greater and lesser frigates were soaring in slow motion against a blue sky. Lesser noddies were also present and in the shoreline trees were Seychelles fodies introduced here in 1960s.
After lunch we had a fascinating lecture on local research on Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) used by the tuna industry to attract larger tuna. At the same site scientists are doing coral research funded by the island owners to compare reef changes over time and their recovery after coral bleaching events.
Afternoon back on the beautiful beach to relax, snorkel and watch great fish variety at very close range: surgeons, butterflies, squirrels, rabbitfish, sweetlips and several “cleaner stations” where cleaner wrasse give larger fish a full service and manicure to remove parasites. Sky full of huge rainclouds and several rainbows lighted the sky and gave the Amirantes its true magic.
The glass-bottom boat was also very popular with Tom as captain and the passengers saw hands on the beautiful marine species it offered. The National Geographic Explorer left the Amirantes at 2000 hrs and sailed for the granitic islands under the lilted sky with clear sky and so many beautiful stars.
At first light we dropped anchor at St.Joseph atoll, in the middle of Amirantes group, named by Vasco da Gama after himself (the Admiral) in early 1500s. We set out early to explore this miniature atoll, but our Zodiacs grounded on the shallow sand perimeter. Undaunted, our drivers jumped out to push, but eventually all of us had to abandon ship, pushing across the shallows until we reached deeper water.
Then across the lagoon to a wild island Fouquet, named after the wedge-tailed shearwater: and it was our good luck to find one fledged youngster on the beach. After a brief Man Friday experience along the shore, a tour of the lagoon and last mass Zodiac shunt across the shallows, we crossed the deep channel to D’Arros, invited by the resident scientists on the island. We all took the opportunity to walk along the beach to lofty casuarina trees full of frigates; the sand was covered in frigate feathers from preening birds in the treetops. With a steady wind from the north, hundreds of greater and lesser frigates were soaring in slow motion against a blue sky. Lesser noddies were also present and in the shoreline trees were Seychelles fodies introduced here in 1960s.
After lunch we had a fascinating lecture on local research on Fish Aggregation Devices (FADs) used by the tuna industry to attract larger tuna. At the same site scientists are doing coral research funded by the island owners to compare reef changes over time and their recovery after coral bleaching events.
Afternoon back on the beautiful beach to relax, snorkel and watch great fish variety at very close range: surgeons, butterflies, squirrels, rabbitfish, sweetlips and several “cleaner stations” where cleaner wrasse give larger fish a full service and manicure to remove parasites. Sky full of huge rainclouds and several rainbows lighted the sky and gave the Amirantes its true magic.
The glass-bottom boat was also very popular with Tom as captain and the passengers saw hands on the beautiful marine species it offered. The National Geographic Explorer left the Amirantes at 2000 hrs and sailed for the granitic islands under the lilted sky with clear sky and so many beautiful stars.
