Today we went to the Great Barrier Reef, with Reef Magic , a boat company out of Cairns where we snorkeled with many colorful fish. Our catamaran went out to a platform called Marine World, anchored at the outer coral reef. One of the fish was a Maori Rass. He was about five feet long and friendly. We got a good picture of my Grandpa and the Rass. We watched the Marine Biologist feed him.
Our big Reef Magic catamaran boat sailed for about the same distance between Santa Barbara and our Channel Islands to get to the reef. It was very shallow out there and very clear water. For lunch I had prawns (shrimp), Sushi, and lasagna from the buffet they set out for us at 12:00.
There are lots of different types of coral. Brain coral only grows about an inch a year and we saw some huge ones that were 700, to about 1,000 years old. The Staghorn Coral looks like deer horns. There was red fan shaped coral and sea cucumbers.
After lunch we went on a Semi-Submursable tour around the reef. There was a ball of fish all moving together and the Surgeon Fish moved in schools. It was very different than snorkeling. We saw deeper water creatures and vast spaces of water. I enjoyed my trip to the Great Barrier Reef with Reef Magic.
What an awesome adventure you must have had getting to snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef. You certainly saw some interesting fish and the coral must have been spectacular with all its shapes and colors. You are definitely getting a "world class education" traveling with grandma and granddad. My niece just spent a semester abroad in Australia as a marine biology major. She absolutely loved the reef.
ReplyDeleteSo cool. We need to go back some day so you can show us around.
ReplyDeleteThis sounds awsome! I want to see pictures when you get back. You are so lucky to get to go on this trip!
ReplyDeleteWow Wade! I can't believe you got to do all these great things! I wish I was with you! Have fun.
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