AUG-NOV 09:  We have been still regularly seeing the local dugong on our cruises during these months with many sightings being of more than 2 dugong together at one time which is unusual for these waters.  We normally only see 1 or maybe 2 at a time.  We are seeing 4 or 5 together regularly.   at present we have a beautiful cow and her calf that we see with the calf being just a few months old.

July 09:  The dugongs are back after the winter chills and all the rain we had in May and early June, with some regular sightings now occuring.  Even saw the mother dugong with her sub-adult calf - so we are thrilled to see the gentle locals back in these waters feeding.

June 09:  Dugongs are still being seen regularly with one sighted just today (17th) just near the bridge, at Sylvan Beach heading south.  We didn't need to even be on a boat to see this one - you just needed to be onshore and know what you were looking for - a strange, large beige object swimming easily in the water with just a couple of large nostrils coming out of the water, and then its large back following through the water.  Their tail fluke does not normally come out of the water when they are on the surface, you only ever really see the bump of their nose and forehead as they breathe, and then possibly a bit of their back as they follow through and then dive.  They generally come up for breath every 5-8 minutes and forage on the sea grass beds in between breaths, hence they generally keep to relatively shallow waters, particularly if they have young, with these young needing to breath and eat more regularly. 

May/June 09:  Dugongs have been regularly sighted over the last few months which is really pleasing and even a bit surprising.  The amount of rain that has fallen in these parts over the last couple of weeks has been record breaking, however we have sighted the dugong since then, in these waters that are extremely full of fresh water runoff, as well as tannins and other undesirables coming down through the creeks and waterways into the Passage.  Anyway - we are still seeing the dugong - feeding off Gallagher's, seemingly with not a care in the world.  They have not been worried about the boat, and just keep diving, eating, and have, at times, swum right up next to and under the boat.  (The vessel has jet motors - so no props etc to damage any wildlife or feeding banks.  We generally stop and turn motors off if dugong or dolphin come too close.)

Dec-Jan 09:  We had some awesome sightings of dugongs in December with us seeing 7 dugong in one day, over 3 pods, in 3 different places in the passage and with one seacow having a beautiful new baby with her!!   We have continued to see dugong weekly throughout the holidays which has been a fantastic thrill and surprise for us.  It was assumed that, due to the fantastic weather with many boats on the water,  the dugong would be hiding during the holidays, but they have been out and about with our baby dugong seen regularly!!