Tuesday, Sep 25, 2018

Thankfully my husband doesn’t do anything without putting some decent thought into it and coming up with a good plan. We, actually he, looked at a couple boat trips out to the reef but after very quickly ruling out the ones that were filled with too many people or others that took a while to get out the reef he decided on a company called the Reef Sprinter. We arrived at the marina at 7:30am and departed at 8:00am spent almost 3 hours out at the reef at Low Isles, which is a popular snorkelling spot. 

Leaving the Marina for the Great Barrier Reef.

At the Low Isles and getting ready to head out in the water.

Justin has contributed to the post today:

“The Great Barrier Reef, it’s been 25 years since I was here last. So special to bring my kids along. Although I wasn’t 100% sure Shelby was going to get in the water, somehow she has conjured up a fear of sharks. She was put to the test within a minute of hitting the water, G pointed out a black tip reef shark, a massive 24” (yes 2 whole feet!) of teeth and destruction. Earlier on the boat our guide/captain said he hadn’t lost anybody all week to the sharks, possibly we were due…he also said he’d rather not lose anyone to sharks or anything else as it is too much paperwork for him to fill out. 

After the near death experience, G and Shelby buddied together and we were off to see the fishies. Meanwhile my snorkel buddy Max was using his snorkel like a straw and sucking up gulps of sea water. We weren’t even in 4 feet of water and the boy was having some difficulties with the gear and sea chop. A curt holler at my wife and we retrieved the pool noodle from her that Max insisted he didn’t need mere moments ago. Despite the choppy conditions the kids did great. We saw turtles, fish, a number of giant clams and more. Oh yeah, and a shark! All 24” of it.”

Beach time after snorkelling.

Shelby is writing a news story for school on the reef, I’ll add that here after she’s completed it. She talks more about the current condition of it and what’s happened to it over the last number of years. 

There are those moments when we travel that you look around at your surroundings and experiences and realize that this is something special and indeed this day was a once in a lifetime, unforgettable, family adventure together. 

Heading back to Port Douglas on the Reefsprinter. Low Isles in the background.