Visit Lady Musgrave Island

Did you know that the colour of coral is determined by the type of algae that grows on it? Coral isn’t colourful—the algae is! The coral and the algae live in a mutually beneficial symbiotic relationship. The algae use photosynthesis to produce nutrients, which the coral consumes. The coral in turn produces waste, which the algae consume as a nutrient.

This relationship keeps the nutrients in recycling loop rather than drifting away in ocean currents and can greatly increase the coral’s food supply. If only we humans were that clever with our recycling!

Even more noteworthy is the recent discovery that global warming seems to be killing the algae and the death of the algae is in turn causing the coral to starve to death.

Now, I worked as a SCUBA Instructor on the GBR for almost a decade and I did not know that but the Glenn conducts the most awesomely informative Glass Bottom Boat trip this side of everywhere!

Sabrina’s Island walk was just as interesting as the Glass Bottom Boat. The last conversation I expected to find myself in was one about the “Wood Wide Web”. No, we were not talking about the internet, we’re talking about mycelium—mushroom roots. Actually mycelium is not really root it’s actually part of the body of the mushroom and is more accurately called a mushroom thread. Scientists are now certain that these threads act as a kind of underground internet, linking the roots of different plants.

That tree in your garden is probably hooked up to a bush several metres away, thanks to mycelia and they’re chatting away daily about conditions in your garden!

Wow what a morning!

I didn’t think I could top that but then I swam alongside the biggest old man turtle that I had ever seen and totally forgot how cool my morning had been!

The afternoon was topped off by scones, jam and cream with a Devonshire Tea.

I love Lady Musgrave Island—what a great day out on the reef!

There are a number of different operators running out to Lady Musgrave but the only one that isn’t a private charter (see offshore fishing for private charters) is 1770 Reef. Click on the link below to contact them.

http://www.1770reef.com.au/

 

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