Northwest Trip days 7-8

Hanging out on the docks over the stromatolites
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     Fortunately it only took about 3 hours to get to the Shark Bay area, but we stopped in Carnarvon, a historical shipping and train  coastal town.  Checked out the old shipping jetties and the local museum.  We arrived at  the Hamelin Pool camp ground in the afternoon and set up camp and then we walked down to the beach to where there was once a shell quarry and most importantly the Stromatolites.  The Stromatolites are actually living rocks, depending on the tides you can see the bubbles in the water from them breathing.  They are basically the first living thing on earth and they are also the original source of oxygen on the planet.  They are interesting rock formations to look at but their history as the source of life on earth is the most fascinating part.

The shells from the Hamelin Pool area
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We woke up extra early the next morning so we could drive to Monkey Mia to see the first dolphin feeding!  I am not even sure if I have seen dolphins in an aquarium, but i can now say that i have seen wild dolphins swim right by me.  They were absolutely beautiful and so close!  Our group then hung out on the beach for the morning, played beach volleyball, went swimming and snorkeling.  After lunch was when the real fun happened.  We went on a 3 hour catamaran boat ride into the bay.  The Shark Bay region is full of amazing marine life because of the plentiful sea grass that many animals thrive off of, creating a dynamic food chain. Just from our catamaran ride we had dolphins swim and jump alongside the boat, sea turtles surfacing in the distance, and so many dugongs!! Dugongs are very similar to what we call manatees in the states.  I never realized how large they were, absolutely amazing seeing them in the water. Shark Bay is also a world heritage area, which means that it is an environmental sanctuary that has very strict restrictions on the development and recreational use of the area.  So no motor boats will be scarring the dugongs here like the manatees in Florida.      We also had the pleasure of visiting a black pearl farm while on the boat tour.  Mostly consisting of a little building on stilts out in the bay.  At the farm we were given a presentation on how pearls are cultivated or farmed, very interesting industry.  For the grand finale to the boat tour we went net booming.  Which means that a net is hung off the back of the catamaran between the two pontoons and you climb into the net and hold on for dear life as the boat speeds off.  I thought it would be a relaxing ride in the beautiful water, oh no, it was more intense than any roller coaster or water ride I have been on, but SO much fun!  That concluded our days in Monkey Mia and the Shark Bay Region.