The Great Barrier Reef

15-3-2010 (Monday)

Everybody was awake before 8, Ruben got coffee from the restaurant and we had ‘tiger chips’ in the room. We left just before 9 to go to the marina to catch the boat to the outer reef.
We got several warnings the sea would be rough, the boat was a huge catamaran with maybe around 200 people on board. Indeed the 1,5 hour boat trip was rough, Ruben did not feel that good but did not need the handed out paper bags.

Around 11.30 we arrived at the reef platform (http://www.quicksilver-cruises.com/). The platform is like a huge pontoon with several activities to do from like snorkeling, diving, ride on a semi-submarine and helicopter flights.
Because it’s marine stinger ( box jellyfish) season Sharon, Ruben and Zeb put on a stinger suit, a kind of jump suite. We put on our snorkeling outfit and went swimming (Sharai was already sleeping for 2 hours). Zeb really liked it, the big and colorful fish, he even touched some huge fish and hold a small jellyfish.
It was really cool swimming between the coral and the fishes.

There was a good lunch served and when Sharai woke up we took the semi-submarine. It was almost 3 and time to go back, the 1,5 hour back was more rough but we were all ok and the kids were lovely.

Back a shore we went to the hotel and had early dinner, after dinner a swim to finish of this perfect day.
The Great Barrier Reef must be one of the highpoints of visiting Australia, for us it was indeed.