Latest news with #snorkelling
Yahoo
2 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Aussie snorkeller's deadly find 'cruising' in popular rock pool
A seasoned snorkeller was stunned to spot a small, deadly creature "cruising around" the rock pool he was exploring, telling Yahoo News he may likely "never see one again in my life" despite spending hours of his time under the waves. Scott Gutterson has been diving the waters off Kiama on NSW's South Coast for eight years and, despite getting up close and personal with rays, sharks, and even finding a message-in-a-bottle, he was still overjoyed to find a blue-lined octopus earlier this month. The octopus is one of the most venomous creatures in the ocean. "It was like a 50-cent-sized rock that wasn't moving... I must have got too close because it got defensive and its colour changed a lot," he told Yahoo. It was the distinctive blue lines that drew Scott's attention to the octopus, a clear warning sign from the creature not to get any closer. The blue-lined octopus, a species of the more commonly known blue-ringed octopus, carries enough venom to kill 26 adults within minutes. However, they are usually very timid. Their bite is small and often painless, often only occurring if the creature is picked up. There have been at least three documented deaths and multiple near-fatalities from blue-ringed octopuses, according to the Australian Museum. 👀 Warning to always 'check rock pools' after little boy's deadly beach encounter 😲 Boy's innocent beach mistake with deadly blue-ringed octopus 🥲 Woman pictured 'playing with death' on beach holiday Deadly creature 'hard to spot' in Aussie waters Due to their size and timid nature, few snorkellers are lucky enough to come across blue-lined octopuses in the wild. Scott explained one of his mates has regularly snorkelled at known habitats around Kiama in search of the species, but has left without so much as a glimpse. "My friend has literally gone to places where they know blue octopuses are there, and hasn't been able to find them. They're very little creatures that are hard to spot at the best of times... That's why it was pretty cool to see," he said, explaining he revisited the rock pool twice after the octopus encounter to try to find it again, but had no luck. "It caught me by surprise. I wasn't expecting to see one in the rock pool that day," Scott said. He explained there was great visibility in the shallow rock pool, and his excitement caused people to gather above him, with one passerby even snapping a shot of Scott with the octopus. "To see this little guy just cruising past... it was just amazing." Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@ You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Twitter and YouTube.
BBC News
6 days ago
- BBC News
Devon man drowns in strong currents while on holiday
A man from Devon drowned while snorkelling with sea turtles off a small, uninhabited Caribbean island, an inquest has newspaper editor Gareth Weekes, 77, was on a week-long yachting trip in St Vincent and the Grenadines when the incident happened in March 2023, Exeter Coroner's Court was wife, Alison Weekes, said she and her husband were not told about the currents ahead of being left in the told the hearing: "I fully accept his death was accidental, but we had no warnings about currents and no means of communication from the uninhabited island - the dinghy disappeared." The yacht's captain and the Dutch company that organised the holiday said that the swimming and snorkelling trips were free activities, but the risks and responsibilities lay with the guests Weekes told the coroner she believes the sailing company should improve their safety procedures. Mrs Weekes said her husband - a former editor of the Tavistock Times Gazette - was an "adequate swimmer" and had swum from the yacht on previous said Mr Weekes chose not to use flippers on the day in question, as they were difficult to walk with on the entered the sea together, but she left the water when her mask misted up, before realising her husband was appealed to other tourists for help, before one of the yacht's dinghies returned after 20 minutes, when a "frantic" Mrs Weekes told the crewman her husband was crew searched for Mr Weekes, finding him clinging to ropes at the edge of the snorkelling took Mr Weekes back to the yacht, where he was given CPR, but could not be saved.A post mortem concluded he died from drowning and he also had atrial fibrillation and Parkinson's senior Devon coroner, Philip Spinney, recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Daily Mail
Widow of British holidaymaker who drowned snorkelling off Caribbean island accuses yacht cruise company of poor safety
The widow of a British holidaymaker who drowned while snorkelling off a Caribbean island has accused the yacht cruise company of poor safety. Gareth Weekes, 77, of Clayhidon, Devon was onboard a luxury yacht with his wife Alison Weekes, alongside 25 other guests and 10 members of crew, off the coast of St Vincent and the Grenadines when he tragically died on March 8, 2023. Now, his heartbroken widow has claimed that the couple received 'no warning' from members of staff regarding the risk of 'currents', adding that she believes the sailing company should improve their safety procedures as a result. Exeter Coroner's Court heard that both Alison and her husband, a retired journalist and former editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo, had been taken by a dinghy to the beach off the island early that morning while away on holiday. Ms Weekes, who had been married to Mr Weekes for 17 years, previously described her beloved husband as having 'enormous integrity and empathy' and a keen sailor. She said that on the morning of that fateful day, Mr Weekes, a -father-of-four, did not use flippers as he said they were difficult to walk with on the beach. While the pair entered the sea together, Ms Weekes faced difficulties with her mask. When she emerged from the water, her husband was nowhere to be seen. Becoming 'frantic', Ms Weekes quickly enlisted the help of other members of the public in attempting to find Mr Weekes. After 20 minutes, one of the dinghies returned, with the crewmen immediately informed of his disappearance. A crewman eventually located Mr Weekes, found hanging onto ropes at the edge of the snorkelling zone. He was then taken to their 54 metre yacht and given CPR, but unfortunately did not survive. Both the captain of the yacht and the Dutch company that organised the trip said that both the swimming and snorkelling trips were free activities, but that the risks and responsibilities laid with the guests themselves. However, Ms Weekes refuted such claims, adding that while she 'fully accepts' that her husband's death was 'accidental', the pair 'had no warnings about currents and no means of communication from the uninhabited island. The dinghy disappeared'. She also added that her husband was an 'adequate swimmer' and had been able to swim from the yacht in the previous days. Previously described as a 'wonderful father' with 'kindness running through everything he did', Mr Weekes' daughter, Jenna Fansa, told The Echo: 'Dad took a very genuine interest in everyone he met - together with his wit and engaging writing style, this made him a very talented journalist. 'We are so very lucky to have had him.' Meanwhile, Mr Weekes' eldest daughter, Veryan Canston, spoke highly of her father's 'boundless enthusiasm and gung-ho zest for new experiences'. Reflecting on his incredible life, she told the publication: 'Dad died how he lived - taking risks, having adventures, exploring the world and approaching life with boundless enthusiasm and a gung-ho zest for new experiences. 'We are glad he was having those adventures right up till the end.' Mr Weekes also had two stepchildren - Poz Watson and Maddie Flint - as well as 11 grandchildren. He was survived by his two sisters, Carolyn Arthurs and Jane Revill. Born in Cardiff in October 1945 and growing up in south Wales, Mr Weekes worked at a firm of solicitors before becoming a journalist. He edited weekly newspapers in Tavistock and Salisbury before later becoming the editor of the Bournemouth Daily Echo. A post mortem investigation into his 'tragic and sudden death' concluded that the British holidaymaker died from drowning. He was also found to have had atrial fibrillation and Parkinson's disease. Senior Devon coroner Philip Spinney recorded a conclusion of accidental death.
News.com.au
07-07-2025
- News.com.au
Tourist almost split in two by boat while snorkelling off the coast of the Bahamas
A former Army Ranger was nearly sliced in half when he was struck by a propeller of a boat that ran him over in a disturbing hit-and-run as he snorkelled off the coast of the Bahamas during a family holiday. Brent Slough, from Texas, is in critical condition at an ICU in Miami, Florida, after suffering multiple fractures and deep gashes in the horrifying incident on June 30. Mr Slough was snorkelling approximately six metres off the shore of Exuma when a speedboat, captained by two men, barrelled through the waters and into the father of two before taking off, CBS Texas reported. The 42-year-old was with his wife, Whitney, and their two daughters, who witnessed the grisly hit-and-run. 'I felt like a thump thump, and I was like, 'did I just get hit by a boat?'' Mr Slough told the outlet. 'My left leg wasn't functioning, and I felt like something was wrong with my lower body.' Mr Slough was nearly split in two by the powerful blades that struck just below his buttocks. 'His bottom was almost completely detached from his legs,' a horrified Whitney said. The wounded father managed to pull himself above water and saw the boat that allegedly struck him speeding away from the frightening scene. 'So I surfaced and I looked to my right and I see two guys in a boat and one of them looks back and they just keep on going,' he said. Mr Slough's older daughter rushed to her dad's aid and pulled him to shore using a float, according to the outlet. He was rushed to a hospital on Exuma before being transferred roughly 30 minutes away to a medical centre in Nassau. The care at both facilities was considered 'insufficient,' and Mr Slough was airlifted on an ambulance jet to Miami, where he went into surgery before being hospitalised in the ICU, according to a GoFundMe set up for his wife. 'The doctor told me, 'Please get to a hospital in Miami, you need to get to the US for something this traumatic,'' Mr Slough said. Doctors are concerned that Slough's injuries are still life-threatening, fearing the lacerations can become infected. Whitney Slough left her daughters back in the Bahamas to travel with her husband to the US. 'It breaks my heart because we're not on vacation together, and we are not with our girls at the same time,' she told CBS Texas. 'I'm so grateful that he's alive.' Mr Slough graduated from West Point before becoming an Army Ranger in his six-year military service, where he served one tour in Iraq. The determined wife is returning to her children to assist authorities in finding the boaters she believes are aware of hitting her husband. 'Oh, they're going to be found,' she said. 'It's against the law to be within 200 feet of the shore. Brent was about 20 feet out … I just wish they would turn themselves in, but if they don't turn themselves in, then we have to find them.' Whitney credited God for saving her husband, despite his gruesome injuries. 'This was God getting us through this 100 per cent,' she added.
Daily Mail
03-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Mettam's Pool: The breathtaking hidden oasis tucked away 20 minutes outside a major CBD - yet thousands have no idea it's there
An idyllic, sparkling beach sat 20 minutes outside the Perth CBD is a favourite among locals, yet thousands of travellers from further afield have no clue it exists. Mettam's Pool, a sheltered oasis beloved by swimmers and snorkellers, is tucked away in North Beach, a northern coastal suburb of Perth along the popular West Coast Drive. It is home to a unique natural lagoon, protected by a coral reef, and is most easily reached by car as there is no direct route by public transport yet - an element that boosts its appeal. The stunning - and rarely crowded - hideaway reaches its full potential during low swell and low winds, when the the surrounding reef creates a calm, natural lagoon with clear and shallow waters. Once the tide comes in, however, the water is more suitable for advanced swimmers as the swell can be quite rough. Those in the sea are also warned to mind the often invisible (and jagged) rocks hidden by the incoming tide. Keen snorkellers are also in for a treat here, with marine life including blowfish, starfish, wrasse, pink snappers and western rock lobsters. The best conditions for swimming are usually first thing in the morning in the warmer months, so head out early to beat the wind and waves picking up in the afternoon. Those looking for a more adrenaline-filled day are urged to head beyond the reef with surfers, kite surfers and windsurfers a regular sight in autumn in winter. The stunning - and rarely crowded - hideaway reaches its full potential during low swell and low winds, when the the surrounding reef creates a calm, natural lagoon with clear and shallow waters (pictured Maria Maia and Maddison Elizabeth at Mottam's) The popular Beachcombers across the road is a hot spot for a fish and chips break, while the North Beach Deli is a coffee must and transforms into a brewery by night. Monty's Cafe, the Sandbar at Scarborough Beach and Trigg Beach are also worth a visit while in town. Those who have stumbled upon this piece of paradise have raved about its beauty and crystal clear waters. 'Beautiful oasis on the coast. If you feel like a dip in the ocean without the waves, this is the place for you. Only room for splashing about amongst the reef, but worth it. There's a deeper pool where you can safely snorkel,' one wrote. 'Gorgeous beach to take kids and explore. Kids love taking their snorkelling gear down and looking for fish, crabs and other creatures,' another added. It's one of many hidden gem beaches in Western Australia more should know about, with the second on our list known as 'The Aquarium'. The aptly named beachside oasis is tucked away between Smiths Beach and Canal Rocks near the West Australia town of Yallingup, three hours south of Perth. A popular spot for swimmers, beach-lovers and photographers alike, the picturesque lagoon is no easy feat to find and visitors will need to know exactly where to go to find it. The Aquarium's calm, vibrant waters are protected from the surf by huge granite boulders the rugged coastline is littered with. Visitors to The Aquarium are becoming more frequent as word gets out about the hidden gem and say travellers need to 'be prepared for a bit of a hike down' to get to the pool. Tourists can travel towards to the ocean along Canal Rocks Road near Yallingup until they reach the small car park at the end. From there, it is a 1.3km walk downhill along a rough track through the rugged and rocky coastal bushland with stunning views of the ocean.
