It’s a good day to swim with the Fishes…

OMG!

I can now say I have done what I have ALWAYS wanted to do. See the Great Barrier Reef!!!!

We awoke again before the alarm, in anticipation of our Reef adventure.

We did not believe it until the bus pulled up and then drove away with us on it.

It was an interesting ride to the wharf, after spending 23 days on a Holland America ship, it was so different to be on a bus with a large number of “what appeared to be” hung over young people!

The bus stopped at several hostels, backpacker “village”. Gilligan’s (the party hostel in Cairns) some very swish hotels and finally made it to the wharf.

Look what we saw on the way… yup. The westerdam!

We headed over to the boat, everyone chattering excited for the adventure.

Our vessel for the day.

We had some safety briefings and they informed us that the seas were fairly high. And that sea sick tab were recommended, and they were selling them (I had already had mine before arriving!)

Off we set for our great adventure.

They served us a bacon and egg sandwich and fruit for lunch

As we exited the port, the seas tossed the boat about… many of the young people who had been partying all night, tossed their cookies!

Thankfully we were fine. But there were a lot of green gills!

Rough seas… a theme for us it seams

And then we arrived!

Where we were

The reef

Some were scuba diving (not us) and the rest snorkeling…

So off we went.

The scuba divers getting ready to go

Gillian in the water, having a great time !

After an hour and bit everyone was called aboard, we were served lunch, and headed to the next reef.

Upper deck views, very tired young people on the right of pic

Minor problem along the way, the captain ran over a mooring line (overheard in bridge “in 20 years I have never done that!”) so some of the dive staff had to go under the ship and untangle the prop… that delayed us a little. But we had time for another hour on another reef