Great Barrier Reef - November 10

Our second Cairns tour was Saturday, out to the Great Barrier Reef to the north east of Port Douglas. A Quicksilver coach picked us up at 8:05.  We drove the Captain Cook highway along the coast to Port Douglas, enjoying the ocean view though not the twisty-turny. The prime view of the eclipse, our driver told us, bs from one of the small sandy beaches just off the highway.We plan to stay in Cairns.

Anyway we road the Quicksilver 8 catamaran to their platform positioned just inside the reef. You con see the surf breaking on the reef in the picture. I had arranged to join the marine biologist led Snorkel tour, so as soon or we arrived I had to get on my gear. Full body Lycra suit, then a wet suit knee length, snorkel, goggles and fins. I look pretty funny, don't l. The hard part was walking in bare feet on the metal grid deck But it was worth it. I took a "pool noodle" for flotation and spent about 45 minutes in the water. The reef and its residents were right there, in full colour. My fin actually touched the coral accidentally once, and I was not "duck diving" like sone of the more advanced snorkelers. Linda had already partaken of the lunch buffet by the time I returned. Once the gear was off and food eaten we. were just in time for the second-last departure of the semisubmersible, where these pictures were taken. They are a poor representation of what I saw while snorkeling. But the best I could do through the glass in the sub.

It was a long, enjoyable day that had us visit a very special place, one that may be had to save from the effects of global warming