Traveling with Michelle: Day 15: Down by the reef, by the reef, by the beautiful reef

Today we visited the Great Barrier Reef. We signed up for a deal where a boat takes you from Port Douglas to a platform they have on the edge of the Reef. You can then engage in various activities for about three hours. You can snorkel, scuba, get scuba lessons, view the reef from below the platform, take a partially submerged boat out further in the coral reef, or pay extra for a helicopter ride, a naturalist-accompanied snorkel tour, or do a weird helmet walk thing (we didn't see anyone actually doing this--just photos in the brochure). They also serve a lunch. Before the ship left, they served coffee and tea, then had water and crackers available on the way. The lunch included rolls, salads (green, pasta, seafood, potato), fresh fruit (watermelon, cantaloupe, orange, pineapple), prawns, cold ham and roast beef, cold fried chicken, a roast beef-type stew, steamed rice, and toppings. It was all you could eat; we went back later for more fruit. They had tea and coffee on the boat while we waited to come back (they had to count everyone and make sure everyone was on board) as well as crackers and cheese. The tea and coffee are not served while the boat is moving (for safety reasons) but the crackers and cheese were available the entire trip back. Green cordial and water were also available.

Good-bye mainland!

Kathi

Along the way

The Coral Reef

The clear blue water!

We were not comfortable enough to snorkel or scuba dive, so first we viewed the reef from below the platform.

Then we went on a partially submersible boat ride. We were told that healthy coral is actually all brown. The multicolored coral that we see on TV is mostly done at night with black light.

Entering the submersible

coral

coral and fish

coral

blue coral

turtle

another turtle

giant clam

fish

We watched the fish being fed.

Then we ate and took photos.

Went on another submersible boat ride.

Came back in the boat.

When we arrived back, we went to visit a little chapel that we remembered visiting last time we were in Australia. It is very sweet and has a large window behind the alter that looks out over the ocean--great wedding photo op! Then we stopped at a store selling opals that was relocating so that everything was 50% off.

See the ocean in the background?

Inside the chapel, see the giant window looking out on the sea?

The stained glass windows have shells, butterflies, etc.

From the beach

The beach from the church

coconuts

When we arrived back at our place, we went across the street to Trinity Beach. Because it was Independence Day for our country, we stood on the beach, faced our home country, and sang both America, the Beautiful and the Star Spangled Banner. Happy Birthday America!