Snorkeling on the Great Barrier Reef
Trip Start
Aug 31, 2009
1
6
Trip End
Aug 31, 2009
Michalmas Cay, Queensland, Australia
Friday, September 4, 2009
The boat set sail at about 8:30 and the weather didn't look promising. It was cloudy and windy and the sea was pretty chopping; even though we didn't want to say it out loud, I'm sure my dad and I were both thinking it was a terrible day for going offshore. The boat wasn't very crowded, and most of the people on it were outside looking a little seasick. The waves are pretty bad my neck of the Pacific Ocean, so this didn't seem so bad to me! After a little wind and rain and clouds, the weather cleared up just in time for us to arrive at Michalmas Cay. The weather was nice, the sun was shining, and the ocean was the perfect color blue.
We got out snorkeling gear and got the "beach buggy" out to shore, where we suited up and swam right out to the coral reefs. The colors were amazing, and pictures will never be able to do the great barrier reef justice. Snorkeling there was like nothing I have ever done before; the reef and the fish were the most beautiful things I have ever seen! We took an underwater camera, so we'll have to wait and see how those pictures turn out! I saw both hard coral that could tear you to pieces if you was up against it, as well as soft coral that swayed in the ebb and flow of the waves in all colors of bright yellow and green, deep red and blue. I saw huge striped fish and giant clams that I could seriously fit into! The colors were so strange underwater; the clams were rich violet with highlighter bright yellow spots.
One of the strangest experiences snorkeling was when my head was submerged in the water, there is close to no noise and it is so peaceful. All of a sudden, I head a loud "crunch crunch crunch" which scared me! Looking around for the source of the noise, I realized we were floating about a huge school of about fifty parrot fish, all the length of my forearm! These fish are the brightest colors of green and blue and purple and really stand out against the reef, and they eat the coral, making a really loud crunching noise! The colors and fish in the reef are indescribable, its something that everyone should see sometime in their lives!
After our first snorkel run, we ate a great lunch on the boat and took a ride in the semi-submersible. We saw more coral and fish, and even a few green sea turtles; the way they move in the water is so cute! We took another trip out to the reef for a snorkel before the boat set sail, and saw tons of huge and colorful reef fish. On the way back in to shore, we had some afternoon coffee and tea and went sunbathing on the deck with a glass of Australian champagne. What a perfect way to end a beautiful day!
This trip out to the reef was amazing; the ocean is so blue and the animals are amazing. The next time I come I want to be scuba certified and try a dive on the great barrier reef! This place I'm visiting really is paradise.
