Great Barrier Reef

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9/6 was our day on the Great Barrier Reef. We took a 90 minute boat ride out to an anchored platform on the Reef. All three of us signed up for an intro dive, and none of us made it beyond the diving platform. We were all a bit uncomfortable with the diving idea, and one by one we dropped like flies. The intro dive option did not cost anything but at least we gave it a try. We otherwise had a great time snorkeling, riding the semi-submersible boat, and relaxing on the Reef. Dean took an additional snorkel excursion with a marine biologist on an outer shelf of the Reef. We saw some great fish and coral.
As we have headed north, we noticed the plant life becoming more tropical along the way. Bananas, coffee, mangoes, and the like have joined the eucalyptus trees that grow everywhere over here. We think there is more sugar cane here than in Hawaii.

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Photos

Coral and Fish
Shot from the semi-submersible.

Reef Magic Pontoon
This is the deck of the pontoon where we spent the day.