Great Barrier Reef

DON'T WORRY! THERE ARE MORE PHOTOS TO COME. Uploading take a good bit of time here, and we are basically going from waking up to going to bed. We are going to attempt to catch up with our pictures tonight.

So the reef was AMAZING. We woke up yesterday and took a short drive over to a port in Cairns where we boarded a boat to heard out to the reef. We got on a large boat, and took about a 90 minute ride out to the reef, where a staffed platform awaited us. On the boatride we recieved a lecture on the different biology of what we would see while diving and snorkling, and instructions on how to navigate the reef once we arrived.

Once we stepped off the boat onto the platform, we were immiediately encouraged to suit up and get in the water. Our experienced divers headed out to the outer reef for some advanced dives. The rest of the group spend the day snorkeling around the reef, or taking a ride on the semi submursable glass boat for another educational lecture and views of more diverse specices.

The views were amazing. We had a perfect day. Great warm weather, sunshine, and crystal clear waters. Our tour guide mentioned that it was the best he had seen it in his 9 trips over the last 8 years. The coral was just breath taking, and we even got to pet different fish that have been trained by the cruise staff. It was a once and a lifetime opportunity that we will never forget.

We are about to head out to do some hiking in the mountains, and this afternoon we will be going to the rainforest to hike and swim in waterfall areas, and slide down naturally formed slides that have been around for thousands of years. Although we have only been going for two days, we have already seen and experienced so much that if we left today, many would have considered it worth it. However, we have so much to see and experience.

We love and miss you guys. We will post more pics tonight. Please pray for sustained energy. Most of the crew is going to bed as soon as we get home... about 8-8:30 at night. It is all we can do to stay awake that long!

Until next time...