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| On the boat, ready to go snorkeling in the reef! |
I can't tell you how many times I've watched Finding Nemo. I can't tell you how many times I've wished I could go to Australia and see the Sydney Opera House for myself. I definately never thought I would be swimming in the Great Barrier Reef, but today that's exactly what I did and I couldn't have been more excited! Albeit, I did go through a nervous spell beforehand because I'm not a very good swimmer at all - and I let myself believe that even though we had life vests, I was still going to find myself suffering due to my lack of swimming ability...
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| We're here! |
Of course, it was a beautiful day in Cairns, a little windy, but nothing we weren't used to back in Chicago! We took a boat out to the middle of the ocean, it took about two hours, but it was extremely fun! The wind added a little adrenaline to our boat ride, because we caught some air on some of those waves, it was a bumpy ride, but we loved it! On the way there, we passed some beautiful islands, they looked uninhabited until you saw some wood houses cleverly built into the island forests. The water was some of the bluest I've ever seen, like what you picture when you think of the Caribbean waters in paradise. After two hours, we arrived at the Great Barrier Reef, and we didn't need the time duration to tell us that. You could see the new, bright colors in the water and some outline of coral as we approached the Reef, we were here! As soon as we arrived, we put on our gear, our lifevests, goggles, flippers, and snorkels and waded into the water. I hate cold water. Usually, it can take me up to an hour to even fully submerge my legs, but this water was sooooo......warm. It seriously felt like bathwater! So in Australia's "cold" winter, their ocean water is warm! Thank you, mother nature. Maddi and I immediately swam out and about into the reef and the sights we saw were incredible! We swam amidst a school of fish, they were bumping against me and all around me, I felt like a part of them, especially with my snorkel, I felt like I too, could breathe underwater. It's like my childhood fantasy come true, I felt like a mermaid. I was so excited, I opened my mouth to tell Maddi something....forgetting I was underwater and swallowed a huge mouthful of ocean water....it was disgusting. Like I had swallowed pure salt....and maybe a fish or two...not smart. I wanted to immerse myself deeper though, explore the bottom and see some of the shy fish and coral up close, so I faced this small fear of mine....took off my life vest, and my snorkel...took a deeeeep breath, and I dived. It was amazing seeing the life and diversity among the coral, fish hiding underneath and in it, fish chasing each other, the coral swaying and dancing, I could watch it forever....except I was running out of air. I did this many times, dived down into the depths and saw the beauty! Something was telling me not to get too close to the coral though, we were warned touching it could damage it, but I also remember learning somewhere that coral was very sharp as its defense. So I would float above it, completely still and flap my arms, I looked ridiculous, but I could watch the coral and not get scratched. It worked for me, because as we got out of the water, everyone was showing their battle wounds from the reef, big long, bleeding gashes....and I was scratch-free. Looking ridiculous has its advantages sometimes. When I got out of the reef I got o hold a sea cucumber (they're so slimy!) and a starfish straight from the reef, they were so cute! Then I enjoyed the rest of my time bathing out in the sun. Don't worry, I used SPF 30. On the ride back, it was difficult watching the Great Barrier Reef dissapear into the horizon, but it's one experience I will never forget and one I will be sure to tell over and over, time and time again.
Of course, it was a beautiful day in Cairns, a little windy, but nothing we weren't used to back in Chicago! We took a boat out to the middle of the ocean, it took about two hours, but it was extremely fun! The wind added a little adrenaline to our boat ride, because we caught some air on some of those waves, it was a bumpy ride, but we loved it! On the way there, we passed some beautiful islands, they looked uninhabited until you saw some wood houses cleverly built into the island forests. The water was some of the bluest I've ever seen, like what you picture when you think of the Caribbean waters in paradise. After two hours, we arrived at the Great Barrier Reef, and we didn't need the time duration to tell us that. You could see the new, bright colors in the water and some outline of coral as we approached the Reef, we were here! As soon as we arrived, we put on our gear, our lifevests, goggles, flippers, and snorkels and waded into the water. I hate cold water. Usually, it can take me up to an hour to even fully submerge my legs, but this water was sooooo......warm. It seriously felt like bathwater! So in Australia's "cold" winter, their ocean water is warm! Thank you, mother nature. Maddi and I immediately swam out and about into the reef and the sights we saw were incredible! We swam amidst a school of fish, they were bumping against me and all around me, I felt like a part of them, especially with my snorkel, I felt like I too, could breathe underwater. It's like my childhood fantasy come true, I felt like a mermaid. I was so excited, I opened my mouth to tell Maddi something....forgetting I was underwater and swallowed a huge mouthful of ocean water....it was disgusting. Like I had swallowed pure salt....and maybe a fish or two...not smart. I wanted to immerse myself deeper though, explore the bottom and see some of the shy fish and coral up close, so I faced this small fear of mine....took off my life vest, and my snorkel...took a deeeeep breath, and I dived. It was amazing seeing the life and diversity among the coral, fish hiding underneath and in it, fish chasing each other, the coral swaying and dancing, I could watch it forever....except I was running out of air. I did this many times, dived down into the depths and saw the beauty! Something was telling me not to get too close to the coral though, we were warned touching it could damage it, but I also remember learning somewhere that coral was very sharp as its defense. So I would float above it, completely still and flap my arms, I looked ridiculous, but I could watch the coral and not get scratched. It worked for me, because as we got out of the water, everyone was showing their battle wounds from the reef, big long, bleeding gashes....and I was scratch-free. Looking ridiculous has its advantages sometimes. When I got out of the reef I got o hold a sea cucumber (they're so slimy!) and a starfish straight from the reef, they were so cute! Then I enjoyed the rest of my time bathing out in the sun. Don't worry, I used SPF 30. On the ride back, it was difficult watching the Great Barrier Reef dissapear into the horizon, but it's one experience I will never forget and one I will be sure to tell over and over, time and time again.
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