G'Day Guys

Today has been the most amazing day and well worth the 6am start!!!

We boarded our vessel at 730am in the marina and were heading towards the Great Barrier Reef at 8am. It took just over 2 hours to reach our first destination at Michelmas Cay where we dropped anchor and decided to go for a scuba dive. Once the safety checks were completed we sank down into the crystal blue water to explore the underwater world. Emma our guide took us onto the reef and showed us lots of different fish including the batfish, giant Wrasse, clown fish,christmas tree worms and sea cucumbers which we got to touch as well. We had been under the water about 20 minutes and were 7 metres down when the highlight was a black tipped reef shark that swam right by our faces, it was so amazing and we both were really excited. The dive time went so quickly and we had to return to the vessel for lunch but we could have stayed down there all day!!!!

Whilst lunch was served we moved to Paradise Reef where we both went snorkelling and saw loads more fish. Mel was also stung by a Rosary Bead jellyfish and is sporting a lovely imprint of its tentacles on her right arm, luckily it was not deadly!!!!

The weather was superb as it is every day here and we sailed back into Cairns at 5pm, the whole day was breathtaking and so beautiful to see these creatures in their natural environment. It was one of the best things we have done so far in Oz. So what are you all waiting for visit the Great Barrier Reef!!!!!!!!

Tomorrow Townsville for a quick overnight stop before our dreaded 36 hour bus journey to Darwin. We also managed to make our reservations on the Indian Pacific yesterday which is a 2 day train journey from Adelaide to Perth.

Lots of Love

M & M

xx