Great Barrier Reef: 31 October

Today was the highlight of the trip to date, and what Amy came to Australia to do.  We took the Quicksilver from Port Douglas 75 K out to the Agincourt Reef, one of the outer reefs 50 K from shore and 2 K from the end of the Continental Shelf.   It was quite a professional enterprise: we docked at a large "eco-friendly" pontoon anchored off the reef that allowed even those who were afraid of the water to observe the wonders it had to offer.

Quicksilver

Pontoon

 

We took a trip on a "semi-submersible reef viewer" that gave us an incredible view of the reef system and the wide variety of corals that live there.  Ted -- we wish you were with us.  Here are some of the pictures taken through the glass windows. They don't really do the coral justice, but you get the idea.   For the movie version, see Amy's Facebook wall.

Of course, we had to see the reefs "close-up-and-personal."  Not being divers like divers members of our family, we settled for snorkelling.  Since much of the reef, even out that far, was close to the surface, there was much to see. Amy, the adventuresome one, took the most difficult option and went out with one of the marine biologists on a long guided tour.  Too bad she didn't front up money to buy that underwater camera to document the trip!  The highlight was the amazing number of giant clams, and the poisonous sea cucumber that the guide prompted to go into defensive position.

Intrepid snorkellers in anti-stinger gear.