The Great Barrier Reef

April 6th

Stinger gear to protect from jellyfish stings while snorkeling

Great Barrier Reef today! Took a shuttle to the CBD of Cairns where the marina is for our departure.

Passions of Paradise in the harbour

The boat we embarked on, Passions of Paradise, was a medium sized sail/motor boat. We went to the front for departure, but it ended up getting really turbulent once we left the bay, so I decided to move to the back. At this point I was starting to feel rather sick from all the choppiness. After a terrible hour and a half of seasickness, we arrived at a small secluded island with part of the Great Barrier Reef lying right off the coast.

Michaelmas Cay, our first stop on the reef, black spots in the water are part of the reef

After taking a glass bottomed boat across to the island we geared up with stinger gear, fins, and snorkel. The reef was miraculous. Schools of fish swam by, string rays rested in the sand down below, fish went inside and outside of small holes in the reef, and strange clam like creatures breathed in and out. Just like Finding Nemo. We were not allowed to step on the reef, as it takes thousands of years to rebuild any part of the reef that breaks off.

Fish feeding off the side of the boat

Boarding the boat again, we left for another reef, this time in the middle of the ocean. The fish in this one were much bigger. There were sharks even about!

Basically what I saw while snorkeling

One lunch and two hours later, and we were back in Cairns.

Keep it level!


Jono

P.S. Did not have an underwater camera, unfortunately, but any photo you look up on google are similar to what the GBR looked like up close for me. Time to fly back to Sydney where I will have to write 3 essays and study for a midterm.

Video
fish feeding