I forgot to add in my previous post the second major attraction at Port Douglas – the Great Barrier Reef. Along with Cairns, PD is the gateway to the GBR. There are literally hundreds of tours leaving throughout the day to snorkel and dive. Most are huge fast catamarans that speed out to large pontoons on the reef with restaurants, underwater subs and waterslides. We went for something a little more low-key and chose Wavelength Tours who were focused on snorkelling and only carried about twenty people. You can read my review here but safe to say they delivered a superb day out.
It’s a long way out to the reef edge from PD so it’s a long 1.5 hour ride. The SE Trade Winds whip up the sea at this time of year so it’s a very bouncy and quite wet ride out. The journey passes with fitting of equipment and talks about reef ecology and diversity.
I should at this point say that the majority of photos are from the crew. They possess a full underwater equipped DSLR camera and I don’t. Taking photos in bouncy waves, underwater, of moving objects is pretty hard and they clearly know what they are doing. Thanks to Johanna who took the photos. I’m sure you’ll agree they are pretty amazing
We arrived at Opal Reef and got kitted up
Even though the waves were rough the water quality is quite astonishing. As soon as you dip your head under the water the clarity takes your breath away.
Where Lady Elliot Island was primarily shallow here the water was much deeper and the reef edges much higher.
The diversity of life was simply astonishing. I’ll let the pictures do the talking.
The kids were struggling with the fins (you really need them as currents are very strong) so after an initial struggle we quickly worked out to “buddy up” such that I towed TJF around – holding her hand as I did all the swimming and TBF likewise paired up with TJS. It was actually quite a nive father and daughter moment as we explored the GBR together, hand in hand
We saw fish of all shapes and sizes (including “Nemo”!)
Coral of all shades
A turtle, snoozing on the bottom
We even saw our first reef shark, spotted by TJF but not in time to grab a photo
My favourites however were the giant clams, just like the one’s you saw in 1950’s B movies, grabbing divers by the ankles!
They are everywhere and a multitude of colours. They are of course harmless and no-one got trapped or eaten 🙂
You simply snorkel around in circles around the edges and see something new every time. You often hear people say that it’s like snorkelling in an aquarium and it’s true. You just don’t want to get out. However cold and tiredness and the need to get back to shore before dark mean you have to get out eventually. The reef delivered one final treat. As we approached the boat we got up close and personal with Angus, a Maori Wrasse who frequents the reef and comes over whenever boats visit for a quick feed
In case you can’t get the scale he’s about 5 feet long from tail to teeth and a little intimidating!
Reluctantly we climbed out and headed back to shore. The GBR is everything you imagine it to be and more. A true wonder of the world and I feel lucky and privileged to have seen it.
Even luckier, we got one more chance to see it later in the trip. 🙂
surfnslide 