Jul 7
<>< The Great Barrier Reef ><>
Today was AMAZING! Claire and I did the Great Barrier Reef! We boarded our large boat this morning a little sad that the sky was rainy and cloudy but even that didn’t dampen our excitement. We were going to The Reef!!!! We drove out and got into our gear. One by one people dropped off the edge of the boat looking like another species with their fins, suits, and masks. As I slid off the edge of the boat and hit the water my stomach flipped. I felt like a fish out of water (I know, I know, corny joke J).
It took only a moment to adjust my breathing before my face was looking down in amazement at the fish that had come up to check out our boat. We swam further along until the sand at the bottom began to escalate into a giant reef. All along were different fish forming their own communities in the reef and occasionally swimming past. One was so close it pooped on Claire and sped off. Luckily I was under water so no one heard me laugh. The water was so clear and blue we could see the bottom with no problems. Definitely a change from the mighty Mississippi. It was still cloudy out so everything seemed a bit dull. We went aboard and our ship went to a new location.
The clouds parted and the sun said hello as once again we dove into the water. This time, things were even more amazing, not to mention colorful. The fish were the brightest blues, greens, oranges, and yellows. We saw butterfly fish, surgeons, parrotfish, and even Nemo hanging out in an anemone. At one point I even saw a white tip reef shark. Naturally I panicked and stuck my head out of water thinking Jaws must be behind me. When I looked back I couldn’t see it so I thought maybe I had mistaken two fish swimming together. Claire, who saw nothing, helped calm me down so I stayed in the water. She even grabbed my legs once in a while, making me scream silently under waterJ. I became at ease once again until there it was, a small shark at the bottom of the reef. By the time I reached Claire it was gone but this time I knew. He was a small one and the fish were too pretty to miss so I stayed in hoping he would just keep to himself which he did. I’m glad I stayed in because the sight was once in a life time. The most beautiful fish came up to check us out and say hello. Below us the scuba divers swam past and tried to open giant clams. It went on and on forever, new beauties emerging constantly. It was a great day. Once again thanks for reading.
Miranda