When Dan the Man, the bus driver from Meadows, tells you after just picking us up from the caravan park, that it is going to be a rough ride out to the reef and taking of medication is highly recommended, you go oh yea, just something to stir up the tourists.
It had been windy overnight and was overcast but it was 23C at 8am. On arriving at the Port Douglas Marina it was still out the channel to the ocean. Then every staff member on the boat Calypso 10 says it is going to be rough including the boat captain, maybe it is time to take notice. We took some quells so see if we need them and whether they work.
The boat wasn’t all that full with 32 passengers and 8 crew. Most of the passengers were College students from University of Florida on their summer break but doing studies in Australia for a month.
It wasn’t long and we were underway. As soon as we left the channel the boat hit a 3 metre swell and waves were breaking over the top of the 3 storey catermaran. The theme song of “Gilligan’s Island” came to mind. And we had an hour of this to get to the Great Barrier Reef.
A few got sick on the journey and we wont mention that Rachael filled a bag. A 25 knot south easterly was responsible for these very lumpy seas. Soon we were on the north side of the Opal Reef (part of the Great Barrier Reef) which was somewhat protected from the seas.
We stopped at three sites on Opal Reef with an hour at each site. It was hard work with a strong current from the South-Easterly. But did get to see plenty of fish of different types and colours, as well as different colour corals. Even managed to see a giant clam. It was a good day despite the weather but looks like we need to return when the weather is better.
The return journey was as exciting as the journey out with a 3 metre swell still and waves breaking over the top of the boat. It was certainly a relief to see the marina after an hour.
The rest of the night was recovery, after all, 3 hours in the water swimming against the current takes it out of you.
