Returning to the Tropicana Grand Oasis we found the reef to be as welcoming as ever and even encountered some new fish. Star of the visit was a whale shark, trawling its way across the surface of Sharks Bay with an entourage of delighted snorkellers. Yours truly, encumbered by camcorder and lacking in both speed and stamina, only succeeded in glimpsing its back as it broke surface, but my fitter wife made a heroic effort and sprinted alongside the massive fish, estimated at 16 metres long!

I had to satisfy myself with close encounters with a manta ray and a very playful Napoleon wrasse, who repeatedly sidled up to me for a close-up inspection. Perhaps it had been fed by divers and my wet suit (fending off sunburn) gave it an expectation of a tasty treat.

All photos taken with the Sony DCR-HC90 camcorder in stills mode, the 3 megapixel CCD giving sharp pictures suitable for printing up to A4 size.