Cairns, Australia Day 2 - the Great Barrier Reef!
Today the cast and cruise director have a group outing to dive (me) and snorkel (everyone else) the Outer Great Barrier Reef! Now that I am a certified diver, this is definitely one place I really wanted to dive. Granted, it's been a year and I was nervous. I was afraid I wouldn't remember how to set up the gear (they do it for you) and if I would be okay with descending, ascending and with my buoyancy. I didn't need to worry because I did very well!
So, we started the day boarding our catamaran with about 200 other people for an hour and a half ride out to the reef. The boat was near our ship, so we walked.
Weird looking bird on our walk to the catamaran
The Marine World Catamaran
Our group picture before boarding: Kyle, Anastasia, Jonathan, Kashena, Jimmy (CD), me, Jovani
Me, Kash, and Jimmy (our Cruise Director) sunning on the top deck on the ride out to the reef
I didn't take any seasick pills, but I did bring my bands - just in case it got a little rough on the ride out (and it did). Once we arrived to the reef, I have to say that it was gorgeous!
one the Outer Great Barrier Reefs - before people
Our boat docked up to the "platoon"
....after people
Once we got to the platoon, we all suited up in lycra suits (to protect from jellyfish stings)
I get cold underwater no matter how warm the water is (and it was around 80 degrees), so I added a shorty wetsuit over my lycra one (that was fun to put on - not). This is me ready for my second dive
There were only 3 of us divers - and the other two were newly certified in October, so we had the same amount of experience. Though, I do have to say that I was much better with my buoyancy than they were (that is keeping yourself at one level - not constantly floating up and down). Our first dive was an easy one so that we could all get re-acclimated. The dive guide was Jim and he was awesome. He kind of became my dive buddy because I didn't have one (the other 2 were a couple). It was amazing!!! The coral was pretty and there were so many fish near where we started. There was one that comes all the time - a big blue Napolian fish named Wally. He came right up to me and I petted him a few times (he was slimey).
Wally, the friendly fish
I did 2 dives. On my first dive we saw a lot of different fish and a reef shark! He was swimming about 10 feet from me (they are not dangerous). The next dive was even better. The coral was so so beautiful and I saw even more beautiful fish:
Parrot fish
Nemo!!
I saw 4 greay whaler sharks on my second dive and a ton more fish. Our guide took us to this kind of cave area where the coral almost came together at the top - it was beautiful!
One of our castmembers rented an underwater camera to take pictures of us all, but I got the short end of the stick because I was in the water separately from them, so I only got a couple of pictures (and none diving). The fish pictures are his (but I did see the fish!! And then some).
I threw on snorkel gear and jumped in the water quickly for this pic. Notice the zebra fish on the far right
It was one of the best days ever and I am so glad I had the opportunity to get to do this. I really an so lucky :)
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