Tue 13 Sep 2011 Busselton

0930 (16066 km) Breakfast of toast and cereal. Left camp.

Busselton Jetty

In the Underwater Observatory

0940 (16078 km) Busselton Jetty. Bought family tickets for Busselton Jetty Under Water Observatory. We went on a train to go along the 1.8 km jetty, the longest wooden pile jetty. Along the train ride, we got to see dolphins! There were also some people fishing and crabbing along the jetty. The train sure beats walking. At the end of the jetty was the Underwater Observatory. It had really good information about marine life. There was also explanation about how tides are formed and how the Leeuwin current influenced the marine life. We climbed the spiral staircase 8m down into the ocean. At each level, there was more information about the marine life at that depth level. There were barnacles and lots of corals on the piles that supported all types of fish and marine life. At the bottom, we also saw a sea star. Some of the marine life we saw included a school of Skippy Jack, Silver Trevally, Mosaic, Cuttlefish, Sea Combs and Puffer Fish. Apparently the corals become more colourful in summer when they 'bloom'. It is a fascinating place, could have spent hours there but because of the limited space, every group only gets about 45 mins. 

View from Underwater Observatory

1215 (16078 km) Left the jetty and went to the Busselton Visitor Centre.

1305 (16091 km) Went back to camp and made toasted sandwiches for lunch. Explored the beach since we were right on the beach.

1700 (16091 km) Early dinner of pasta carbonara, so that we can go crabbing.

1830 (16102 km) Busselton Jetty. Under the lights of the jetty, we caught 2 trumpet fish in the crab net. And 5 legal sized crabs. We threw back a few that were under sized. It was fun to see the crabs swimming in the water and trying to catch it with a drop net. It wasn't easy. The drop net was quite effective in catching the crabs on the ocean floor. Highly recommended to go crabbing when in Busselton.

2035 (16114 km) Saw a possum on the drive back to camp.