Day 45 - Wednesday February 28, 2024, Cairns Australia (pronounced Cans)

Arrival 10:00 All Aboard 20:30 Departure 21:00

We did not arrive on schedule which meant all ship tours would be delayed.

Seabourn Odyssey was in port today as well.

A 2024 Around the World Event was scheduled here but unfortunately it was cancelled for logistical reasons. Australia is considered to have the world's oldest rainforests with enchanting wildlife. The Australian Aboriginals are recognized as the oldest continuous culture on Earth and of course the Great Barrier Reef (GBR). With the ATW event cancelled a ship tour to the GBR was in order. It did not disappoint. We may not have been able to see the GBR otherwise.

The Great Barrier Reef is an UNESCO World Heritage site found on the northeast coast of Australia. Its length is 2,300 kms long.

The description provided by Destination Services indicated the catamaran was not a luxury vessel, only partly covered with indoor and outdoor seating and a washroom. Far from accurate, we boarded a beautiful three-deck air-conditioned catamaran with indoor seating on two decks.

The 90-minute sail took us to the GBR where we docked beside a floating pontoon. The crew of the catamaran were excellent. There were marine biologists, cultural staff and of course snorkel and diving instructors. While on board, crew was very noticeable around the ship with staff stationed at each door and staircase.

A health form was given out while boarding asking a variety of questions including age and what type of medications you may be taking. This was reviewed by the staff prior to arriving at the pontoon to ensure you are healthy enough to partake in the water activities.

Moments before arriving at the GBR, crew staff provided a safety demonstration of the hand signals needed while snorkeling should a crew member come up to you in the water to see how you were doing. Three fingers up with the index finger pressed to the thumb meant you are OK if asked. However, should you be in distress, waving your hands wildly will bring help.

The catamaran is now tied up to the pontoon where we will spend the next 4 to 4.5 hours before returning to Cairns.

It is box jellyfish season and the crew mentioned everyone would need to wear a stinger suit made of lycra for protection. Everyone was wearing the same style and colour of onesie. You had a hood and even your hands were covered. Of course, we needed to take a picture of ourselves all dressed up.

Once the stinger suits were pulled on it was off to the platform steps where you put the fins on. I was surprised not to see as much damaged coral as people say there is. There was some bleaching, but overall, the reefs seemed to be healthy.

Here is a link produced by the Australian Government on the Great Barrier Reef. If you wish to read just copy and paste to your search engine.

https:/www2.gbrmpa.gov.au/learn/reef-health

Janice signed us up for a drift snorkel trip in the afternoon.

Lots of colorful fish and coral in purples and pinks were found swimming amongst the reefs. Upon leaving the water it was time for lunch and I dare not try to take the stinger suit off because I knew how difficult it would be to put back on.

Other activities included a glass bottom boat tour as well as an underwater Reef Viewing Observatory built on the pontoon to see reef life up close.

The afternoon drift snorkel included about six or seven scuba divers as well. We were taken by a small boat to another section of the reef where the water depth were 30 meters. The snorkel instructor told us to stay on the side of the coral, but you could see where the edge dropped off.

A rain squall past through while snorkeling and you could not see the boat which we had come off. I decided on a life jacket, but I was always trying to pull it down although was happy to have it. Janice did not wear one.

A school of parrot fish swam by us and once back on the boat the snorkel guide said this type of parrot fish could weigh as much as 60 kilos and was quite rare, so we were quite grateful to have seem them.

A fun day all around as we return to Cairns. As we make our way to the next port of call Cooktown. I know the ship will be sailing very slowly as it is only 90 nautical miles away.

On the way back to Cairns I asked a crew member what the black, red, and yellow flag flying at the back of the catamaran was. Her response is that it's the Australian Aboriginal Flag.

The flag was designed by artist Harold Thomas in 1970 with the colours representing the Aboriginal people of Australia. The rectangle flag is divided in half with the top being black to symbolize Aboriginal people while the bottom half stands for the earth and is ochre in colour. The yellow circle in the middle represents the sun.

The flag was first raised July 9, 1971, and the Australian government recognized the Aboriginal flag as an official flag of Australia in 1995. That is why you see it flown freely with the Australian flag. That may be something in our near future in Canada.