18 Oct 2019

Beck's Petrel and Dolphin Escorts

Spirit of Enderby's bridge was the place to be this morning with two Beck's Petrel and a Leatherback Turtle spotted before breakfast. A change in weather in the early hours had brought torrential rain, lightning, 15-knot south easterly winds and a 2-metre swell which was gently rolling the ship.

Things calmed as we pulled into the channel between Lambom and New Ireland Islands with the rain and lightning easing in time for half of our expeditioners to go snorkelling and the other half to go searching for the site of Charles I of Nouvelle France's failed attempt to establish a colony. Both groups were successful with the snorkellers experiencing some of the best coral of the voyage so far with underwater highlights including a dugong, lion fish, pipefish, colourful feather stars, duster worms and several nudibranch among the aquatic wonderland. Our other group not only found the failed colony complete with bricks and millstone, they also saw a dugong while Jessa found several interesting insects including a peppermint stick insect.

This afternoon we were welcomed onto Lambom Island with the call of a conch shell and greeted by camouflaged warriors weilding spears and bow and arrows. Several singsings from the village children and elders and it was time play games with the children and explore the village. Expeditioners tried their hand at paddling dugout canoes while the children were given Zodiac rides.

Farewelled by a dugout canoe flotilla surrounding Spirit of Enderby, we headed out into open water where a spectacular rainbow and sunset and a pod of Spinner Dolphins joined us, cruising the bow surge. Their excited clicks invited others to join, with Dan determining we had 3 groups and around 60 dolphins escorting us to Rabaul.

Image (c) E.Bell, Heritage Expeditions