So, finally, we get to do what most people come to Cairns to do: The Great Barrier Reef.
At 8:15am, we were led by Matt to the jetty where we boarded the Reef Magic boat, and set out for the Great Barrier Reef. It was quite a long to get there: 90 minutes, or so, before we tethered to the pontoon that is permanently anchored out there.
We had been informed that we should wear swimwear under our clothes, and to bring a change of clothing for after snorkeling. So when we arrived, we set to preparing ourselves by stripping off everything except our swimwear, and trying to put on an appropriately sized body suit. Among other things, it protects you against stings from jellyfish. But it’s very difficult to put on. I had to ask for help, but finally succeeded:
I specifically wanted a life vest, because I had needed one in the Galapagos.
So, then, I had to wait until my group’s turn. They helped me put on flippers, and get down into the water using the steps.
Then, the diving instructor said “Put your face mask down into the water, and push off towards this square of pipe.” Which I did. So far, so good. After a while, I tried going it alone without the pipe square for support. It was OK for a while, but then I got some water into my breathing tube, and it wasn’t OK any more. I thrashed around, and managed to get back to the pipe square, and spent some time there, recovering my breath. The dive instructors asked me if I was OK. I said yes, but indicated that I was done.
But then, along came Flo, the Marine Biologist, who asked me if I would like to hold on to a flotation device, while she pulled two of us along. I said yes, mainly because it seemed an easy and low risk way to get more out of the experience. Flo was great! She spent a lot of time talking to my partner and I about what we were looking at. She was very knowledgable. Unfortunately, I wasn’t wearing my hearing aids (of course!), and I had water in my ears, so I could hear very little of what she said. But she towed us around for quite some time, and finally we made it back to the steps. Flo had done all the work, but I was exhausted! I’m sure some of it was psychological, but I was glad it was over.
I have mixed feelings about the experience. I’m glad I can say that I did it, even though it wasn’t under my own power. On the other hand, I can’t say that I enjoyed it, because the stress level was quite high. And we had poor weather conditions. There was quite a swell, the sun was hidden behind lots of clouds, and when I finally got on the boat, it was teeming down, and very windy. I really didn’t see the coral or the fish in all their colorful splendor.
Then, of course, I had to get the body suit off. And there was what seemed to be a howling gale, and teeming rain. So, I went back to the boat, which was enclosed, and one of my fellow travellers helped me get my arms out, and the top off. But I had to go back to the pontoon to get someone to help me out of the bottoms. Then, I went back to the boat to finish changing because conditions on the pontoon were too wild
I ended up changing in the toilet, which is like an aircraft toilet. And while I was trying to dry off, I was being dripped on by the air conditioning condensation. ARGH!!!.
Finally, I got fully changed and dressed, and could then partake of the lunch buffet, which was quite good.
Later, I managed to take the last voyage of the glass-bottomed boat, which was interesting. It was manned by two aborigine guys. One steered while the other related information about how the aborigines hunted fish on the reef. Meanwhile, we could see the reef below. It was interesting how much it changed with depth below the surface.
Finally, we returned to Cairns.
I arrived back at the hotel, and felt a little queasy (I think I was a little dehydrated), so I went to bed.
I felt much better the next morning.
