It's a shame the Gilligans 'Resort' doesn't come with the clientele. This was clear when first of all, we had a random enter the room, throwing cereal at the people in bed (who were off on a trip at 6am). Matt can not stand 'travelers' who are just here to get paraletic every night - you can do that in England. The offender's face dropped when he got a face full of cereal in return and the death stare from Matt. The next incident occurred when Char was woken up about 4am by a drunk lad. He walked in the room, put his wallet on the bed then searched the room for the wallet. He then walked out and returned with the security guards who he thought might be bothered about it! After putting him back in the room he found the wallet on his bed...idiot! But the madness didn't stop there.... He proceeded to kneel on the floor, with his hands together, bowing while he thanked God for finding his wallet.

Even after a sleepless night, we jumped up, made some noise and walked out laughing about the nights events ready for our Great Barrier Reef trip.

Within 10 minutes of boarding 'Passions For Paradise' we were self administrating sea sickness tablets, just in case. The speed in which the boat was travelling and the swells of the ocean were not a good combination. 2 hours to the reef meant one thing, sit on the front of a catamaran, soaking up the rays and the spray from the ocean (as Grandma would say... This is the life!) when we arrived, there was a problem.... The wetsuit.... No sleeves, no legs. Not good in an ocean full of stingers but they tell us it's not the season.... How do stingers know when it is the season?!

During our first snorkel we made our way through the coral maze, trying to avoid getting coral rash on our bare legs. At some points this was pretty tricky as it was less than half a metre below us. We survived, seeing colourful marine biodiversity at its best. No wonder this is one of the wonders of the world.

On returning to the boat, we stumbled across an inquisitive, person sized Maori Rass that seemed unreal and mechanical at the time. With its gigantic lips and tattooed body we observed in awe.

Oh what a surprise... Somebody got stung! Yes it wasn't life-threatening but still, how did she know?!

Second snorkel, on edge, we manned up and took the opportunity. It was well worth while, seeing stingrays, reef sharks, giant trevally and huge flat fish, red snapper, baby squids, a baby seahorse, parrot fish, clown fish (nemo's) and the rest of the hundreds of species that we do not know the names of.

The marine world is unreal!

M & C xxxx