A group of scuba divers has been lucky enough to encounter a dugong in waters less than 30 kilometres off Cairns.
Great Adventures Cruises were treated to the rare encounter with a young adult dugong near Green Island yesterday.
Estimated to be around two metres in length, this was the first dugong sighting recorded by Great Adventures divers in the area for several years.
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It was also the first ever sighting for videographer Dan Liu and two very lucky introductory divers on holiday from Ballarat, Victoria.
“He was very curious swimming near us as the group were diving on a nearby coral bommie,” Dan said.
“He came close within about four metres, swimming away and then coming back for another look before swimming off over the seagrass beds.”
Dugongs, often called sea cows, graze shallow seagrass meadows – eating up to 40 kilograms a day – and are found across the tropical belt in Australia.
They reach a length of three metres, live up to 70 years of age and can weigh as much as 400kg.
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“Early sailors are believed to have confused them for mythical mermaids,” Mr Baird said.
“They are most closely related to the manatee, their northern hemisphere relative.
“Sea cows resemble a large dolphin but lack a dorsal fin and have an upper lip covered in thick bristles.
“They are well designed for aquatic life, with nostrils situated on top of their heads so they can breathe, and have a large, strong tail that propels them through the water.
“Their eyes and ears are on the side of their heads and although their eyesight is poor, they have an acute sense of hearing.”
The dugong is a threatened species across the world and in Australia are protected under various legislation including the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Act 1975.
The sighting will be reported to local reef monitoring and protection groups.
Great Adventures Reef is operated by local company, The Quicksilver Group, which also manages Green Island Cruises and the island’s boutique resort.
