The Great Barrier Reef is one of the Seven Natural Wonders of the World. The Reef is around 500,00 years old in the making. The Great Barrier Reef stretches over 1,400 miles in the Coral Sea from Bundaberg to the tip of Cape York. The Great Barrier Reef is made up of 2,900 + individual reefs. There are 1500+ types of fish, 400+types of coral and reef sharks are the apex predator on the reef.
We did stop at Opal Reef for one of our 3 spots. Our tour company, Calypso chooses the snorkel locations based on weather and tide patterns according to the members who helped us.
Reef map on the boat.
Leaving Port Douglas
Australia rules.
Grace and Katie before the snorkel tour
Let’s go snorkeling!!!
No one took a picture of us in our stinger suits but they have stirrup feet, hood and the covers for your hands. They are black and they are hot when you are not in the water.
The reef and a school of fish
More fish
Chevron Butterflyfish on the coral
Love the color of this coral. I don’t think the picture does it justice.
Blackbacked Butterflyfish
I think these are a variety of parrot fish
Parrot fish
Love the coral
Fish among the branch coral
Threebanded Pennantfish
Stripey Seaperch. Never forget the stripey dress!!!
Moon Waresse
I can’t match this one.
Saddled Butterflyfish
Black Butterflyfish
Parrot fish
Wrasse???
Stripey seaperch.
Steephead Parrot Fish
No idea???
Jellyfish #1
Jellyfish!!!
Apex predator: White-Tipped Reef Shark
I was just snorkeling out away from the group when this guy showed up to check me out. He swam around me and I followed him for about 30 sec. Super cool seeing him cruise in and survey the reef. Everyone eventually saw him and he took off.
One more shot from my GoPro. It was so cool to see this guy out moving.
Definitely, out of practice snorkeling, first stop I was always popping up, not comfortable with the snorkel in my mouth, always looking around for Katie, Grace and Kari. Once you get comfortable and you can just use the buoyancy of the salt water and the stinger suit you can just let the current float you over the reef and the interactions are so much better.
We finally finished snorkeling and now it was time for a 🍺 and a trip home.
Grace and Katie after the snorkeling.
Island with a lighthouse outside the harbor
Australia!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Australia UV index is at 12 all day.
The coastline and the clouds
Mrs. Anseth charting our course home.
Nautical miles
Back on dry land and in one piece!!
Hemingway’s Pub, Port Douglas
Coconut Prawns
Chips!! Australia loves French fries as much as I do.
Sunset
St. Mary’s by the Sea.
Info on the church.
Mojito to close the night out at La Cucina with our meal.
Amazing day to share with the family. Amazing!!
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