Then we set sail for the long haul out to Rowley Shoals (
Rowley Shoals - Wikipedia.)
Next morning, I awoke and checked my mapping app. Hmmm, “Babe we’re almost at Broome, not Rowley Shoals.” Go to get a cup of tea for PJM and quietly note my observation to Glenn, the great assistant purser who has been on all three of our voyages. Medevac diversion. I keep quiet as no announcement has yet been made.
A bit later we go for breakfast a bit early; still no announcement, but it was a sleep-in morning owing to the long transit. I tell our travel companions but say no more and advise they do the same as I don’t want to start anything. But the sun is in front of the ship and not behind as it should be…
We had obviously got about halfway to Rowley Shoals before the middle-of-the-night decision was made to deviate to Broome.
The announcement is made about the medevac, but that as soon as that was done, we would be heading out to Rowley Shoals.
Instead of getting there as planned around midday and then having an afternoon snorkel and dive followed by the same next morning, we would have a day at sea, but make up lost time the next day by an earlier than usual snorkel, followed by another after and early lunch before departing for Broome mid-afternoon.
Again, magnificent service recovery by the crew, and the guest lecturers quickly put together some excellent unscheduled talks to fill the day at sea very informatively.
Sunrise next day was where it was meant to be – behind the ship!
Our destination was Clerke Reef, which rises steeply from the surrounding ocean floor which is 390m deep. First outing was to drift snorkel on the outer wall, then in the afternoon a snorkel in ‘The Aquarium’, a lagoon within the reef.