The Great Barrier Reef

Sunday, May 20^th

Scuba Diving day!  We walked to the pier and checked in.  It was all well organized and painless.  We boarded our large boat, SilverSonic, for free breakfast.  There were around 20 snorkelers (Michelle included) 10 beginner divers, and 4 certified divers (that’s me). As one of four experienced divers, our dives were intimate, more like a personal tour of the Great Barrier Reef.  Our dive master was very jovial and informed.  The entire trip was educational and enjoyable.  (Except for the slight seasickness on the way out.  It was an hour boat ride to the reef and the winds were pretty high even here, so there were several people throwing up on the back of the boat.  I held it together, but I’m sure it’d be nice to go out again with calmer conditions.) 

I found Nemo!

I signed up for 3 tank dives at Flynn Reef on the Great Barrier Reef.  I have an under water camera that should go only about 3 m (~10 ft) so I decided I wouldn’t take it on the deepest dive but may try it out on our more shallow dives.  Our first dive was at the Coral Gardens: maximum depth: 20m; length of dive: 45 minutes.  We saw Clown Trigger fish, a White Tip Reef Shark, flat worms, Giant clams, a Maori Wrasse, and a Feather Star.

I loved the giant clams.  They were half the size of me and extremely vibrant.  

Hawk Bill Sea Turtle

Nigel (above) was a Maori Wrasse, a big blue fish that came right up to me.  I could pet his soft, smooth scales.  Maori Wrasse, also known as Humphead Wrasse, are mainly found in coral reefs in Indo Pacific regions.  The males can grow to be about 2 meters (6 feet).  They are the largest living member of their family. 

Flat Worm (yellow and white)

I also loved the flat worms.  They glide through the water like stingrays, moving with elegance.  They are decorated with bright primary colors in shapes and patterns that outline their body.

  

Then we came back aboard and layed out on the front part of the boat while we were brought to the next dive site: Gordon’s Reef.  Our maximum depth was 12 meters, so I decided to take my camera down, and just see if it worked.  Sure enough it did! I saw two Hawk Bill Turtles, a Green Turtle, Boxer shrimp, Ghost shrimp and Baracuda.  I would have never spotted the Ghost Shrimp, but Sean, our dive master, pointed them out to me on a sea anemone swaying in the salty blue.  They were microscopic and hardly visible, and yet, adorable (see below)

Pineapple Sea Cucumber

The last dive was at Tracy’s Reef.  We went down about 12 meters for 45 minutes.  This was my favorite dive because Sean made it interactive.  He picked up a Pineapple Sea Cucumber and just plopped it in my hands.  On their underside, Pineapple Sea Cucumbers have hundreds of feet, or suction cup appendages used for movement and food collection and consumption, similar to a starfish. They latched onto my hand- it felt so funny!

 Dive Master, Sean (Check out his cool hair!)

 Whale Poop (Not really.  Actually another Sea Cucumber)

 Leopard Sea Cucumber
When threatened, this specific type of sea cucumber ejects its intestines hoping the predator will attack the gut and not the cucumber.  The Sea Cucumber can regenerate its gut after the event.  Sean showed us this, and touched the white intestines and then pulled, unable to remove it.  It was as strong as a rope.  Well, I thought I'd try the same, so I touched it and sure enough, couldn't get it off.  I had a moment of panic 20 m (60 ft) below, but managed to get some of it off.  It wasn't until I surfaced that it all came off. What an effective protective mechanism.

 Brown Starfish

Kuhl Sting Ray

The different levels of coral formed a city of natural skyscrapers under the sea.  We swam in caves and under archways made by coral.  Tiny neon-blue fish socialized by their local hangout, the Hard Coral Hotel.  When I touched the sea anemone, a soft coral, the clown fish played tag with my fingers.  Small black and white striped fish huddled together in schools for safety.  When you came up, the school would swim into the coral to hide.

Other soft coral that looked like a small flower made of fans in the shape of a pyramid would suck in when you swam by.  It was fun to swish the water towards them and watch them contract into the hard coral for cover. 

I’ve been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to scuba dive in the Bahamas, Hawaii, Puerto Rico and now the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.  Each dive is different.  One was a wreck dive.  I loved swimming through the old rusted doors and looking onto an old ship that is now a home to so many creatures under the sea.  I was originally going to scuba dive the Yongala Wreck in Townsville.  However, due to the weather conditions I wasn’t able to.  But if there is a next time in Australia, I’ll have to make that a priority.  The Yongala Wreck was voted one of the top 10 wreck dives in the world.  The Yongala sank during a cyclone in 1911 with the loss of all 122 people onboard.  They say you can still see hand brushes, silverware and chairs from the day it sunk.

In years to come, I want to plan trips specifically around dives.  There is something about being under water, exploring something so untouched and alive.  Each inch of coral, sand and rock is a home to another aquatic life.  The millions of moving parts in this under water world make up a magnificent whole.  Each part is important and so specifically designed for a purpose.  It truly is a whole new world under there.  I always dreamt I would someday be a mermaid.  This is my way of making that dream come true. I may not have a tail, but I do have fins and I can breathe under water, with assistance of my scuba gear.

Monday, May 21^st

We woke up early to drive back to Townsville before my flight at 2.  The countryside was gloomier on the way back, with heavy rainfall.  No wonder it’s so green here. 

The kindle is a traveler’s best friend.  My flight was delayed but I didn’t mind at all because I was happily in another world with my kindle and ipod.  When we did board the plane, I quickly nestled into my seat, unfortunately not a window seat this time. Sad day.  I continued to read until we made it to Sydney.  It was tragic to watch the sun flicker on the seats but not really be able to see what was just outside the window.  I can only imagine what the sunset must have looked like over Sydney.  It was very painful for me not to be in a window seat. I made it, just barely, and exited the plane, ready for my long trek back home via train, bus and then car.  Tired but home, I walked in only to find…. The harp!!! Jerry picked up the rented harp while I was away and it’s now here!! I was so excited.  I started screaming and found nail clippers right away.  I can’t bare the sounds of long nails on a harp.  Then I tuned the harp.  Once all tuned, I sat down and started to play.  This 36-string lever harp has surprisingly full sound.  I was so impressed and delighted.  My fingers instantly remembered what to do and danced on the strings, making music to my heart.  I was one with the harp. I was whole.  What a perfect ending to a wonderful weekend of adventure and exploration.  I could express those feelings through my music.  I let out a big sigh through my notes and released the songs in my head that had been trapped momentarily.  The wheels in my head started turning.  I will play this harp on the cliffs at Curl Curl.