You will excuse me if I talk only about our snorkelling trip to the Barrier Reef. We didn't have an underwater camera so you will just get the above water photos and you can just imagine Jacques Cousteau films.
The day was superb. Beautifully sunny, not windy, the sea was still and clear. We were picked up by a minibus and taken to the harbour to board Calypso Ten, a large catamaran.
We travelled offshore around 14km to Opal Reef and had our first of three snorkels. We had to wear all in one suits to guard against stinging jellyfish.
All three dives were fantastic. The fish were varied and plentiful and the coral was spectacular. We saw Tomato Clown Fish, Parrot Fish, Remora (Parasite) Fish, Giant Clams and Sea Cucumber. There were far more than this but I can't identify them. We narrowly missed a turtle but apparently they are rare on the outer reef. Each session was about 30-45 minutes long and each area was a little different. We learned that Parrot Fish poo was responsible for the beautiful sands at Port Douglas as they peck the corals and excrete it as sand; nice thought when we walk along the beach later!
The onboard lunch was really nice and plentiful. The crew were all helpful and informative but otherwise allowed us to enjoy our trip.
We were quite exhilarated on our return journey and enjoyed the sunbathing on deck and the views of Low Island and the mainland.
Back to the hotel for a dip in the pool and a nice evening meal on the apartment balcony.
No comments:
Post a Comment