Diving Great Barrier Reef

Australia Nov 11, 2012

Today we took a 2 hour ride out to the reef on a catamaranmotor boat.  We landed on a platform withactivities which included a glass bottom boat an underwater viewing station,snorkeling and diving.  The platform hadtwo levels which were available for our use for the afternoon.  Bob and I decided to dive as one of ouractivities.  We suited up and went in asmall group out onto the reef.  I was alittle disappointed in the entire operation for the diving.  The reef did not appear to be as healthy aswe expected and the diving was very restricted by the two guides taking us outto the reef.  Strangely enough we had adiver in our group who was being dragged along by one of the guides.  So I think this was an outing that did nothave divers too experienced.  We alsowent on a short glass bottom boat ride which was nice but demonstrated again that visibility was poor and the whole reefworld outfit might have been overused making the experience less than ideal. Wealso observed in the underwater observation room and did a littlesnorkeling.  The snorkeling was the bestbecause the colors seemed more vibrant, since the sea life was closer to thesurface.  On the way back from the reef,the winds had picked up and the ride back was quite a bit rougher.  We did see a waterfall on the reef from thetide coming in.   It was quite an interesting phenomenon, and unfortunatelyno pictures. 

We made it back to the ship. The weather increased in strength overnight and our scheduled stop atMcKay was canceled because it was unsafe to take tenders ashore.  So we have an extra sea day on board.  Activities were quickly scheduled so therewere not too many disgruntled passengers. Bob and I attended lectures and acupcake tea.  We look forward to dinnertonight and a comic at the theatre onboard.