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22/07/2008: "TRADITIONAL TURTLE HUNTERS ...... Batt Reef, Port Douglas"

Batt Reef is a lonely place 26 km from popular Port Douglas in Queensland's north. Few boats visit Batt Reef due to how shallow and sandy it is. No beautiful coral formations here - nothing except a big underwater desert with associated wildlife.

Turtle, stingray and occasional dugong. And of course sharks who search in very shallow water, at ease from humans as few boats are ever seen there.

Batt Reef was the destination selected by TV's Crocodile Hunter for filming and the location where he made the mistake of getting close to a large black stingray. The rest is well documented history.

This picture was taken the day we had our memorable (and later well publicized) encounter with a large shark which chewed the side out of our inflatable dinghy!

The original fathomOZ report and pictures tomorrow.