Michaelmas Cay - Cairns - Great Barrier Reef

CLOWNFISH AND ANEMONE
Sometimes called the ‘flowers of the sea’, sea anemones are actually beautiful animals, closely related to jellyfish and corals and they live in a symbiotic relationship with clown fish.
Symbiosis is a term describing any relationship or interaction between two dissimilar organisms and depends on whether either or both organisms benefit from the relationship.
The symbiotic relationship between an anemone (Heteractis magnifica) and a clownfish (Amphiron ocellaris) is a classic example of two organisms benefiting the other; the anemone provides the clownfish with protection and shelter, while the clownfish provides the anemone nutrients in the form of waste while also scaring off potential predator fish.
While other fish succumb to these toxic stings, clownfish secrete a substance in the mucus covering their bodies that suppresses the firing of nematocysts. This allows the clownfish to swim comfortably between the tentacles of anemones, creating a protected environment in which potential predators are killed off by anemone stings.
The brightly-coloured clownfish attract other fish looking for a meal. These unsuspecting would-be predators are then caught and eaten by the anemones.
Like to see some anemone?
Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

OUTER REEF BEACH SNORKEL
Yes, you can begin an outer reef snorkel tour from a beach !
Michaelmas Cay is Cairn’s only outer reef guided snorkel location that starts from a beach !
Not a strong swimmer ?
Here is a way around that – get towed on a life ring by one of our experienced guides.
Great for families.

Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

GIANT PARROT FISH
Bumphead or Humphead parrotfish are an incredible and unique reef fish, Bumpheads are the world’s largest parrotfish and among the largest of all reef fish.
There are several other parrotfish that sport a bump on their head, and these may be mistaken for a Bumphead parrotfish — that is until you actually see one. Bumpheads have a presence like no other fish on the reef.
All species of parrotfish bite and scrape algae off rocks and dead corals with their parrot-like beaks; grind the inedible calcium carbonate (reef material made mostly of coral skeletons) which is excreted as sand back onto the reef. Larger parrotfish species can take small chunks out of the reef, removing algae and the occasional piece of coral.
Bumphead parrotfish are unique in that they are continuously crunching large bites out of the reef, about half of it from live coral. In fact, that’s what they do most of the day. Bite the reef. Excrete sand. Repeat. Over the course of a year a single fish can remove over 5 tons of calcium carbonate from the reef!

Often seen at Hastings Reef.
Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

Here we have Seastar making her way over the very shallow coral in Luggers Pass – on her way to Michaelmas Cay and later Hastings Reef.
On such a beautiful day – many are on the bow enjoying the sun.

Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

TABLE CORAL
Here we have a very happy Table Coral making a home on top of one of our mooring floats.
The Great Barrier Reef’s iconic table corals can regenerate coral reef habitats 14 times higher – that’s more than two decades faster – than any other coral type.
They are extraordinary ecosystem engineers – providing vital sun protection for large fish in shallow reef areas, the corals are so important that if lost, the fish that depend on them will leave the reef.
With the loss of table corals this denies fish that important habitat, which they use to shelter from the sun, avoiding harmful UV-radiation, just as we might sit under an umbrella at the beach. The larger fish maintain balanced coral reef ecosystems, they’re the predators that help control fish populations.
So, a very important member of the reef community.
You can see the plate section at top, already providing protection for some soft coral and the foot, firmly anchoring it to the float.
They can be seen at both Michaelmas Cay and Hastings Reef.

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

HELLO THERE
I’ve just been doing some spring cleaning and tiding up the anemone, you never know when visitors will drop by.
Especially around Christmas.
If you’re around at Christmas, come and say hello.

Looking forward to seeing you.

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

WHITETIP REEF SHARK
This is how we normally see these sharks, swimming away from us.
The whitetip reef shark is slender and sleek, with characteristic white markings on the tips of several of its fins. These markings gave it its common name. It is an agile swimmer well suited for its mostly reef habitat existence.
Timid and skittish, the whitetip reef shark is difficult to approach and seldom poses a danger to humans unless roused by food.
The whitetip reef shark has extremely small home ranges and exhibits strong site fidelity, remaining within the same local area for up to several years at a time. It is an active predator of small bony fishes, cephalopods, and crustaceans, and has also been known to feed on sea snakes and seabirds (sometimes seen chasing chicks in the shallows at Michaelmas Cay).

This is one of our Dive Master Trainees
Who went on to complete her training and become a fully qualified Dive Master with Seastar.
This is the day she proudly shows off some of her new dive/snorkel equipment.

Like to go snorkelling –
Like to go diving –
Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

Michaelmas Cay as rarely seen from the southern side.
Again, you can see the coral walking distance just off the water’s edge and only waist deep !
It is the perfect place to start your outer reef guided snorkel tour.

Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

An unusual visitor to Michaelmas Cay.
A couple of years ago, this fellow was seen in the shallow waters of the snorkel area just off the beach at Michaelmas Cay.
Amazingly he just cruised past a passenger who was standing still and quickly snapped this photo.

Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218

Beach Outer Reef Snorkel Tour
Michaelmas Cay – Cairns only outer reef guided snorkel tour that starts from a beach.
A beautiful spot to start your snorkel tour.
Stand up in the safe and shallow waters and ease into the tour.

Come and join us !!

For Bookings:
www.seastarcruises.com.au
Phone:
07 4041 6218