Day 25- 10/27/22 - Noumea, New Caledonia - Day 2

 Yesterday we confirmed our booking on a turtle snorkeling trip and the need to be there at 8:45am outside the Cruise Ship Terminal.  So we arose early, ate breakfast, and were among the first off the ship at 8am and boarded the first shuttle bus.  We purchased some Coke Zero and liquid yogurt for our trip to Signal Island.


We rechecked in and waited until shortly after 9am when we were assigned to the first boat.  We boarded a zodiac and most of the seating was like riding a motorcycle 2up.  The ride out was across smooth waters and we saw at least 3 turtles.  The trip took about 25 minutes and our driver pulled up to the beach and we hopped out into water that was colder than we previously experienced.


Angela and I changed into our snorkeling gear and headed out into the water and spotted our first turtle.  We snorkeled the shallow area on both sides of the dock and spotted several schools of fish and a sleeping turtle.  We returned to the beach side of the dock and it was like someone rang the turtle dinner bell.  There were at least a dozen turtles of all sizes from about 18 inches in diameter and up to around 3 feet in diameter.  The turtles didn't appear to mind us and I got within a foot of them without touching them.  I shot a lot of footage.  We took a short break and I went back in the water and snorkeled out to the deep area where the fish were bigger and I saw a resting turtle about 25 feet down.  On the snorkel back to the beach 4-6 more turtles showed up.






All too soon 12:45pm came and we re-boarded our zodiac and made the 25 minute ride back to the port.  We docked further down the wharf area towards our ship because there were stairs from which to disembark the zodiac.  We walked back to the grocery store and purchased a dozen cans of Coke Zero and caught a shuttle back to the ship.  We dropped our belongings off and headed back out on a shuttle to purchase some more Zero.  This time we purchased 24 cans and re-boarded the bus and made it back to the ship well before 3:30pm deadline.


After showering to rid ourselves of the salt water, I went first to deck 3 to watch the last 2 busses arrive by 3:30pm.  By 3:45pm we were underway.  The ship moved slowly way from the pier before pivoting the stern at a 20° angle relative to the dock.  With three toots of the horn, we backed up and then rotated 180° clockwise and started our voyage out towards open sea.  Through all this I was in my customary vigil on deck 9 forward, and enjoyed a chat with Ray, another passenger.


When it got too windy I adjourned to the Lido Pool area where we ate a light dinner with Erik & Marilyn.  We attended the 7pm main stage show featuring Vicki O'Keefe, daughter of a legendary Australian rock star. We weren't impressed.  Her voice sounded flat and raspy to me and the rock arrangements didn't appeal to me either.


We then watched a movie on the TV, Delores Claiborne, based upon a Stephen King novel.  Actually only Angela watched it as I fell asleep.  


Tomorrow is the first of two sea days as we head to Papua New Guinea.

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