The Great Barrier Reef

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  Great Barrier Reef, Queensland, Australia
Thursday, April 29, 2010

Mid-morning we were picked up for our excursion to the Great Barrier Reef.  We took a 25 minute helicopter flight which was cool but I was a little disappointed on its length and lack of "weaving around" for a better view of some of the reefs.  Believe it or not, we landed on a platform in the middle of the ocean!!!  How great is that!!  From there we were picked up by a small boat for the very short ride to the platform from where all the activities happened.  

I could not wait to get in the water and take in all the reef has to offer.  The water was very warm and oh boy, it was all I could have hoped for.  So many fish of all sizes and colors, so many different types of coral.  I could have stayed all day in the water!  I was so busy following fish that I went "out of boundaries" and the lifeguard called me back in.  I was never in any danger although I was far away but I guess better safe than sorry.  There was something for everyone to do out on the reef - snorkeling, diving, semi submarine, glass bottom observation deck.  The trip is quite expensive, but I would HIGHLY recommend it.  I may do it again before we leave if they go to a different reef (which they often do).  I have snorkeled for many years, but after today I am definitely going to start diving as I am sure the beauty of the sea is much more apparent a little deeper.

I was so busy following a pretty black with a tad of yellow fish that I could not photograph a turtle swimming by.  I did get to see it but I would have loved to capture it on film for you all.  Sorry.  On another note, in a different part of the reef, I was lucky enough to spot a White-tipped Reef Shark.  Yes, I said lucky since I think that is quite exiting.  I was swimming above a shark for quite a while before it decided to stop and take a nap on the bottom of the ocean.  It was really cool.  The shark was about 5 feet in length but I never felt threatened.  I could spend all my time in Cairns swimming on the reef!!!

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Great Barrier Reef	Norman Reef	Our Helicopter	Helipad in the middle of the reef!
Norman Reef	Exploring the Reef	Exploring the Reef	Exploring the Reef
Taking off	Flying over the Great Barrier Reef	Flying over the Great Barrier Reef	Landing at the Reef
Arrival at the Reef

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