The pool at our complex... Swimming in the pool was great but...
After consulting our local guru, the manager at our apartment complex here in Port Douglas, Brett, we chose a day that was predicted to be sunny with calm 5-10 knot winds to head out to the Outer Agincourt Ribbon Reefs of the Great Barrier Reef. The day miraculously was all that and more! It was a perfect day on the reef.
The girls were excited and nervous. We were prepared... sea bands, Gravol, warm/cool clothes and our sunnies. The boat took us out to the reef - a smooth 1.5 hour trip. We were briefed on the different marine life and safe snorkeling practices. There are still deadly box jelly fish in the waters in these parts so... wait for it... we had to wear one piece lycra suits. These would protect us from their potentially deadly stingers but more importantly, they protected us from the Australian sun.
We were privileged to have 3 dives. At the first snorkel site, Mira and Kate stayed close to us. We all had swim noodles to help us float around. The sea life was spectacular. It was like swimming in a full aquarium. The coral was colourful and teeming with life. It was the coolest of the three dives -temperature wise, so the girls put on their wet suit over their stinger suits for the next two dives. We were able to name all the main characters from Nemo and Kate and Paul even saw a shark. Kate quickly pulled the lycra suit over her fingers to protect them from the shark!
By the last dive, both girls were snorkeling all over the place. Paul and I were forced to pull our eyes away from the beauty of the deeps to keep track of ever more adventurous children. They were free diving, making shadows over giant clams to encourage them to close and flutter in front of some of the purple plants that grow on the coral and retract when they feel threatened. It was a joy to see. Kate particularly enjoyed chasing the bubbles the divers made below us. Bubble in the sea. One talented diver could even blow air rings.
Heading out of port...
Looking like experienced snorkelers.
Clown fish.
On our second dive, we all got to see a turtle. It was beautiful, graceful and lovely to see in the wild.
These gropers are everywhere... there is even one that comes to a local restaurant every evening at 5:00pm - it weighs 250kg. We went by for the show but, well, George is just Ugly.
We all agreed that this was the best day.
Cheers. s
Looks like a great day. I wish I was back in Port Douglas with you guys. It's lovely here but the sun looks nice and warm. I bet you don't have any regrets.
ReplyDeletelooks like you are on the set of "finding nemo"
ReplyDeletethere should b a question mark beside "happy"... you look like you are going to hurl