After a few moody, magical days in Kwatsi Bay—watching the rain dimple the surface of the bay and dolphins arc through silver water—we pulled up anchor and pointed the bow toward our next destination: Simoom Sound.
This was one of those places that had long lived in my imagination. A name that sounded like mist and mystery. I’d always wanted to explore it.
August 5, 2024
First Impressions and Shifting Perspective
The journey in took me by surprise— and not in the best way. The slopes were scarred with clear cuts, and I felt a pang of disappointment. It wasn’t the untouched wilderness I had envisioned. But then, as we reached the head of the sound and looked back, the scars disappeared from view. From that angle, it was all emerald water, dense forest, and quiet grandeur.
I was reminded—again—that beauty isn’t always immediate. Sometimes it takes a shift in perspective.
We explored a few possible anchorages—McIntosh Bay, then O’Brien Bay—and eventually settled into a peaceful nook in the southwest corner of O’Brien.
Silence and Wild Company
Simoom Sound turned out to be the quietest place we’ve ever anchored. The silence here wasn’t empty—it was rich and deep and full of presence. It was the kind of silence that makes you feel small in the best possible way.
Each morning was exquisite: mirror-still water glowing green, fog that clung to the trees and took its time lifting, and not a single sound but our breath.
Out in the dinghy one morning, we came upon a cluster of seals lounging on sun-warmed rocks. As the tide crept in, they were lifted off one by one, like reluctant dancers in a slow-motion ballet. One seal lingered, stretched out in a perfect sun salutation—either waving us over or proudly claiming the title of last one basking.
We turned a corner and discovered something I’d never seen before—mussels clinging to a maze of downed trees. In the calm, the reflections were so striking they looked like suspended blue-black flowers. I only had my telephoto lens with me, but it turned out to be perfect for capturing their delicate, sculptural beauty.
While we floated quietly among the mussels, an eagle watched us from a tall snag. Then it launched into the air and swooped low over us. I managed to catch a shot with the dense green forest behind it—a flash of wild power against stillness.
Not long after, we spotted a black bear emerging from the woods, making its way down to the shoreline. It seemed entirely unbothered by our presence, as if we were just another set of odd-looking seabirds. We drifted nearby in the dinghy as it foraged along the shoreline, nosing through the rocks and seaweed for snacks. Its massive paws moved with surprising delicacy.
Photographing bears from the water always feels like such a privilege. There’s a quiet safety in having a moat of water between us, and the view is perfect.
Also: bears? Extremely flexible. Who knew?
Swimming in Green
As if all that weren’t enough, the water in Simoom Sound was warm enough for swimming. Each afternoon we dove in, surfacing with gasps and laughter, wrapped in liquid green.
I’ve included some drone footage from our anchorage—words can’t quite do it justice.
And if you’re curious to see how Ray captured some of our behind-the-scenes moments, check out his video below. It’s always interesting to see how differently we experience and document the same place.
Next stop: Echo Bay
looks amazingly peaceful we have a few places where we can go in our campervan here in nz where few people go the silence is breathtaking enjoy Anne
There’s something special about silence isn’t there? Thank you very much for your visit and comments Jon.
Magnificent! I am so happy that you are able live the nomad life that I dream of. But the window of opportunity has already passed for me (old age, you know). So I travel by watching your wonderful videos and viewing your outstanding photographs. Please don’t ever stop traveling and sharing your work. This blog post eally moved me. Thank you.
Thank you so much for your kind words Carol! We are going to live this nomad life as long as we possibly can because one never knows when that window of opportunity will close. I already thought my travelling days might be over, and now that things are looking up again I definitely want to take advantage of it. I’m so glad you enjoy the posts and photos 🙂
Absolutely Stunning photographs, love the otter saying Hi to you, Beautiful Bears and fantastic landscapes. Thank you Ann for sharing!!!
Many thanks for your wonderful feedback Jon, glad you enjoyed the post!
Just lovely Anne. I am soooo jealous.
Thank you very much John, I hope you have a chance to see this beautiful part of the world.
I loved your words and images. It is difficult to find such beauty and peace in today’s frantic world. It gave me a wonderful break from the onslaught of world crises, political BS, and messages selling everything under the sun. Thank you.
What a wonderful comment, I’m so glad my post and photos can give you that break from all the negativity in the world. It is my goal to focus on the good and beautiful things in the world, share love and kindness, and to inspire others to do the same. I can’t change the world, but I try to live by example as much as I can. I appreciate your visit and comments Ceci!
An amazingly beautiful location and presented with great respect for the natural beauty.
Brings back wonderful memories of our 2014 holiday in the area.
Thank you very much Gordon. I love being out on the water so much. Every day brings new adventures and new wonders to my life. I’m glad you got to experience it too. Thanks for your comments!
Hi
There are hundreds if not a thousand lovely places to see and document. Simoom Dound is one of them. Well described by you . Thanks for sharing.
As I am located in Goa India, your location appears to one far far away for me.
All the best.
Hi Blasco, yes, there are so many incredible places in the world, and I feel fortunate to have been able to travel and see as much as I have. But I haven’t been to India — yet. I always enjoy seeing photos of all the incredibly beautiful birds you have over there and I’d love a chance to photograph them one day. Thanks for your visit and comments!
Wow this is one of my favorite blogs! Anne you are not only a great photographer but an exceptional writer as well and draw us spectators closely into your story.
Hi Sandy, thank you very much for that awesome comment! I’m so glad to hear you enjoy my writing too. I’m just starting to write my first novel, so that gives me a little confidence boost to keep it going.
Fabulous! I bet you guys can hardly wait to get back on the water.
Safe travels!
Hey Steve, you’re right I CAN’T WAIT!! I’m so excited to get out on the boat again. Of course I love the desert in the winter too, but the ocean makes me feel like I am where I am meant to be. (Although no one is meant to be there during the winter lol.)
Gorgeous photos, Anne! The mussels look like jewels. And that shot of the eagle gives me goosebumps. We’re catching up on your boating videos, and it’s so good to see you smiling
Thank you very much Mary, it is really good to smiling and enjoying everything again. I feel very fortunate to be back doing the things I love. Those mussels were incredible — just like an art installation. I’ll be curious to see if they are still there this summer. I appreciate your comments!