Below the Great Barrier Reef, a truly natural wonder

Posted by Marta at 12/22/2009

We got big expectation for today. We were going to float over the marine wonderland of the Great Barrier Reef, the world largest coral reef system with over 2900 individual reefs, more than 1500 species of fishes, 600 tropical islands, 300 coral cays, all stretching over 2300km larger even that the Great Wall of China and the only living thing on earth to be visible from the space, impressive isn’t!

Probably the best way to experience this ultimate natural attraction is by being down amongst it. As a result, on top of the 4 hour snorkelling in two sites of the Outer Reef we gave ourselves a reason more to take also an introductory dive.

Our adventure started at 7.30 when we checked in at Cairns’ Harbour. By 8.30 we were on board of the Down Under vessel ready to sail away to the reef. The water was quite choppy at the start due to some wind. We could see already some fellow passengers battling to reach the toilets or holding their paper bags which it can’t be said for us, as usual “prevent is better than cure” and a little magic pill does the trick.

During the journey, we were called to gather among the others that sign up for the dive for a brief theory’s class, that’s it??? One hour past and we reached our first stop, the Saxon Reef. I really started worrying and becoming nervous, very nervous. I slipped on the fetching penguin’s style wetsuit, tried to relax and just didn’t think about the dive, till....

Long story short, after few initial troubles and made fool of me undersea, when our 30 minutes dive was up and we retreated to the boat, the spectacular view that opened to my eyes from the vessel’s deck over the coral patches oozing out to the water (due to the low tide), I couldn’t resist taking another plunge into this amazing world.

This time we were back on the water only Chris and I for a snorkelling self-tour. It was still windy and the waves kept crashing over us. Consequently the visibility wasn’t at its best, yet in the deep water below us we noticed a huge turtle resting on the sandy ocean bottom. I was simply thrilled by this encounter. We continued peering the water for more creatures. We swam to the swallow water of the reef over spectacular coral formations (though not as colourful as I would imagine) and a colourful variety of fishes, it really felt like be inside an aquarium with all these tropical fishes of so many colours and sizes passing by regardless us, it was wonderfully surreal. I was so captured by this beautiful underworld that without realizing a found myself alone and so far from the boat and Chris which got hung up too forgetting about me, but couldn’t care less. I had been soaking for a while now that, for once, I haven’t even thought about eating until the whistling from the boat called us back.

After lunch we dropped anchor to the second reef the Hastings Reef. We didn’t want to lose a minute and we went straight into the water head down when I got an unexpectedly sight of Wally, the resident giant wrasse, that was coming suspiciously towards me, possible expecting some food?? After this first scary encounter Chris and I got separated once again gazing out among the corals. Once more we were the last people to board recalled back only by the sound of the whistle, we couldn’t simple had enough.

Around 4isch this fantastic voyage was coming to its end and we were on our way back to Cairns. We were now sharing with each other our experiences when I found out that Chris got even the privilege of seeing a reef shark silently glide along him but, truthfully, I felt as much privileged of sharing the ocean for few hours with such a great diversity of marine creatures.

I have so much to tell you about it but, since this post is already too long, if you tune back I will share my diving success, eh eh! Until then ciao.

ps. apologize for the crappy quality of the pictures, hope can still gives you the idea of this spectacular world.

10 comments:

At 24/12/09 9:11 AM Matt (Geeky Traveler) said...

Just curious : Do you think it deserves its spot as one of the 'Seven Natural Wonders of the World'?

Being on the other side of the planet makes it harder for me to get to, but it's on my radar.

 

At 25/12/09 2:51 PM Lifecruiser Travel Blog said...

Wow! Yes, it gives a picture of how it was even though the photos isn't that clear!

Such a wonderful experience....

 

At 27/12/09 5:19 PM Wendy said...

I would really love to see this.

 

At 28/12/09 3:39 PM Keith said...

A full day of snorkeling/diving - is that enough? Do you wish yo had planned more time? Beautiful stuff.

 

At 29/12/09 3:34 AM Isita Koradia said...

Great experience! Thanks for sharing. Its really fund to travel undersea, ai always dream this kind of experience and now I am looking forward to have lifetime experience.

 

At 29/12/09 6:02 AM Chris said...

@ Matt: I think the coral reef is truly one of the seven wonder of the world, it's one of the most beautiful thing I have ever seen in my life!
@ Keith: we just love the whole snorkelling experience and even diving, though it was only an introductory one. we spent about 4/5 hours in the water and surely we wish to do it again and again but we have to think budget!

 

At 29/12/09 9:26 AM Heather on her travels said...

I'd love to snorkle and see all these things but I've always ound the thought of diving a little scary although I wouldn'tr mind if I was quite close to the surface.

 

At 30/12/09 12:44 AM Kerala said...

This is really fun to go under the sea, its like living in a different world. I get very scared in water but if I get a company of any experience person, I would like to enjoy this thrill.

 

At 11/6/10 8:40 PM seo said...

Do you think it deserves its spot as one of the 'Seven Natural Wonders of the World'?

 

At 3/7/10 8:11 PM free games said...

Yes, it gives a picture of how it was even though the photos isn't that clear!