The Great Barrier Reef

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It is Thanksgiving day in the US. We call Sara and talk to Dana E. wishing them a happy Thanksgiving at 6 am local time 2pm in the midwest the day before.
After breakfast we depart to board a large boat (100 foot catamarand) We head for Michaelmas Cay about 2 hours out ( around 5-6 miles from shore). The Cay is a bird reserve and has a sandy beach from which to snorkel. John and I get the equipment to work and actually can see coral and a few fish. I see an angle fish and blue and yellow fish. We go back to our catamarand on the Beach Buggy to have lunch. I ride on a semi submersible and find it somewhat anticlimatic-- can see better coral variety but few fish. Rocking motion made me feel queasy. We motor back to Cairns with a short "sail" on the way before docking at the marina. The short sail had a calming effecgt on me. Then we had a swim in the Oasis pool, then to dinner, and to bed.

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Photos

The safety orientation
We get instructed about the life vest by David O'Brian

Protection from sunburn
The "sunsuits" protect the skin while snorkeling

Protection from sunburn
Suzanne, Jerry, and Heidi are ready to go

The best dressed couple
Richard and Barbi are all decked out

Michaelmas Cay
A bird reserve that has a sandy beach from which to snorkel

The Beach Buggy
After snorkeling, we return to our catamarand and have lunch

We wished we had seen this
The wall decoration in the lobby of the Oasis Hotel in Cairns