Day Three in Queensland-Great Barrier Reef

On Friday, June 19, Barry got up early and took sunrise pictures along the Four Mile Beach in Port Douglas. Gorgeous!

Sunrise, June 19, 2015 - Four Mile Beach, Port Douglas, Queensland

There are many options for snorkeling and experiencing the Great Barrier Reef. With kids, we had read a lot of reviews about choosing the Low Isles, so on Friday we sailed on the Wavedancer to the Low Isles to see the reef. The Low Isles is situated 15km northeast of Port Douglas and is a 4 acre coral cay surrounded by 55 acres of reef. Coral cays are formed by accumulated fragments of plant and animal skeletons that collect on the reef. The two small islands are separate islands on one common reef. The larger of the two is covered by mangroves and is uninhabited except for a large bird population The smaller island is a coral cay and was once home for keepers of its historic lighthouse built in 1878.

Weather date has been gathered from the island since 1887 and in 1928 it was the base for the first scientific study of a coral reef anywhere in the world, examining the structure and ecology of the surrounding reef.

The Quiksilver Wavedancer left at 10am. While on the boat a marine biologist talked about the reef, what we might see, etc. They also warned us about a million times not to touch the reef. It is sad that they feel they have to repeat this so frequently, but unfortunately the reef is damaged more each year.

When we were about to arrive at the Low Isles, we listened to a short demo of how to use the snorkeling equipment.

Approaching Low Isles

View of Cape Tribulation/Port Douglas in the distance

Once we arrived we got all of our equipment and took a shuttle boat to the island. We got ready to snorkel.

Let's Snorkel

The kids in their special lycra suits, which offer protection from sun and stingers!

It was much too complicated for Lydia, so Barry took Hannah and Kiernan out, while I hung along the shore with Lydia. Barry and Kiernan had the most success, and Hannah was a little panicky but saw some things as well. Barry said he saw some fish that were bigger than the kids!

When it was lunchtime back on the Wavedancer, Barry took the kids and I stayed on the island and tried to snorkel the edges of the reef. With the help of the marine biologist, I was able to see sea cucumbers, lots of fish, a giant clam, and she let me touch a mushroom coral.

The kids played on the beach some and then we ended with a glass bottom boat ride where we saw a black-tipped reef shark, a stingray, a sea turtle, and of course fish and lots of coral.

Then we sailed back and relaxed for a bit at our hotel.

We did purchase an underwater camera, but after developing them it should be noted that they do not do The Great Barrier Reef any justice. They are nice to have as memories, but the colors and views will mostly be memories. We did not take our good camera along this day (for obvious reasons).

We ate an Italian dinner at Osteria Padella-Laboratory of Rustic Cuisine (potato gnocchi for me, rainbow trout for Barry).

What a great day filled with memories.

Sarah