Passions on the Great Barrier Reef

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July 25th 2011

Published: July 27th 2011

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ANG SOLO

Shark!!!!

An Epaulette shark about 3 -4 feet

Traveling with the Passions of Paradise in their sailboat/catamaran out to Michaelmas Cay, a bird sancturary and to Paradise Reef today.

The day is just beautiful! A perfect day for snorkeling. On the water for about 30 minutes when whale spouts are spotted but too far away. Then a few minutes later we finally get to see a humpback whale emerge from the water several times and we get a good look at it. Awesome!

Standing at the railing I talk with the young man standing next to me, sounds American and I ask where he's from, can you believe Cincinnati!! So we talk a little bit about OSU and Tressel. He's here on holiday with his Dad after spending a year in China, teaching Englisih and learning Chinese. After 10 days touring with Dad he will travel to Vietnam to teach English there. It's so much fun to talk with all these interesting people.

The cay we are going to is actually a shifting sand bar. It is a bird sanctuary but people are allowed on a roped off area of this little shifting island. If caught on the otherside of the ropes it is a $7.500

Can you still see it?

dollar fine.

Taking anything off the islands or from the reef can result in a $10,000 dollar fine. Look but don't touch is the rule around here!!

Today I only wear a wet suit and I have no problems with motion sickness. A goal for today is to see a shark. It doesn't take long in the water and I spot a shark. A 3 foot Epaulette shark, a spotted shark with big black dots above the pectoral fins.

The fish are amazing. The birds on the beach are amazing. It's nesting season for the terns and there are hundreds of them.

In the afternoon we go to Paradise Reef. This is on open water and the waves and the currents are much strong. To get anywhere you have to swim lateral to the current not directly into it or you would get so tired you would have to quit.

Back on board there was a moment of panic as they do a head count after each session and after the first one the boat is missing one person. Three of the crew hit the water for seach and the others redo the count over

My sailing vessel for the day

and over again. The problem: an orential women did not sign the register that she came back in, even though they went around and announced it on the PA system. But she was finaly found on board. But this delayed our trip by over half an hour. But they are very strict after a tour operator left a married couple in the water not realizing it about 5 years ago. They were out in the water overnight before it was discovered that they were missing.

The time on theGreat Barrier Reef has been the best of the best when it comes to snorkeling with the variety of the fish and the coral. But the ocean is also filled with so much dead coral. I am glad I had the opportunity to see it before it's gone.

I get back to the hostel and I decide to fix a sandwich rather than go to the big barbie the hostel is promoting. Too much sun and fun!

Additional photos below

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