The Reef

Now waiting at Sydney airport so thought we would say more about the day at the reef.   Still no chance to upload photos.

Got to the reef in a large catamaran, it took one hour at about 30 knots.   First  sign of getting there was the sea went flat.   Then our destination platform loomed into sight.   Finally the cat picted its was through the gaps between the reef outcrops, which were brightly coloured under the surface.

On the way we were given instruction on how to snorkel!.   I signed up for the snorkelling tour of the reef.   Could not do the diving tour because over 50.  Made the mistake of telling them about diabetes.   Got the Spanish inquisition and advised not to go snorkelling.   I asked for a weight belt but they refused.   Eventually tyhey agreed to let me go but tied some pink ribbon to my snorkel so the l;ifeguards could identify me easily.!   They didn't take any notice of me saying I had been snorkelling for days in the Cook Islands.  Found a stinger suit my size, but it was light green and looked disgusting even without me in it.   Delia and I went for little excursion before the formal tour.   Very easy to get going off a submerged platform.   

Could not see the reef underwater, but lots of brightly coloured fish.   Swam towards the reef and it suddenly loomed out of the blue.   There was a verticle wall to the top which was covered in about 1m of water at the low tide that we had.   Loads of all types of brightly coloured fish and coral.   Delia managed well for the first time really with a snorkel.   It was magic just gliding along the edge of the reef looking at all the small fish on the top and the big fish in the deeper water by the wall.

The snorkel tour was a bit difficult because could not easily hear the marine biologist talking.   Six of us were being guided by her each holding onto a life belt.   She picked up a mushroom coral - about 20cm diameter and the shape of the top of a mushroom.   It was hard and a bit spikey made of limestone.   She demonstrated it was actually alive by holding it it out of the water.  After a minute it started extruding mucus - some sort of defence mechanism.   

She identified the fantastic fish and we saw a large Rass fish sitting with its mouth wide open being cleaned by small fish going right inside its mouth.  
Big reef trout also being cleaned same way.  Lots of brightly coloured clams from 5cm to 1.5m across.   They are harmless unless you put your foot in them and they close on it.   You then have to wait for them to open again!   

Swam to the observation deck of the platform and Delia took my picture under water!   We  had been in the water for about 2 hours and were getting cramps so gave up.   It was a fantastic experience that we shall not forget.   Then after lunch took the submarine for another tour.   Actually it frightened the fish away and we didn't see much.

We had to leave our beautiful yacht next morning and spent it in the pool of one of the resorts on Hamilton Island.   Got out the pool, took a golf buggy (standard transport here) to collect the bags and get to the airport.   We were sitting in the plane less than 60minutes from being in the pool!

Flight5 has been called - got to go.  Will try to get photos uploaded again next time.